Bidirectional Shift Register Without Inverters for Stable Low-Power Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bidirectional shift registers exhibit high power consumption due to inverter structures and clock coupling effects, leading to unstable output waveforms.

Innovation Solution

A shift register design with serially connected stages, utilizing MOS thin film transistors and capacitors to manage clock signals and supply voltages, eliminating the need for inverter structures and reducing power consumption by coupling the drain of the outputting transistor to a high voltage, thus minimizing coupling effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inverter structures are used in shift register stages, then signal level restoration is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal level restorationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the inverter structure from the shift register stage, extracting the problematic component that caused high power consumption. The output transistor's drain is directly connected to the high voltage line, eliminating the need for an inverter while maintaining signal integrity through the capacitive coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If clock signals are applied to transistor gates for signal transmission, then signal transfer is improved, but coupling effects cause output waveform instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transferVSAvoidoutput waveform stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a capacitor as an intermediary element between the transistor source and the output node. This capacitor couples the output signal without direct clock signal interference, acting as a mediator that transfers the signal while blocking the harmful coupling effects from the clock lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If multiple transistors are connected between output terminal and power supply for discharge function, then discharge capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge capabilityVSAvoidtransistor count
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the discharge function with the existing transistor structure by controlling the output transistor's gate voltage through clock signals. Instead of adding separate discharge transistors, the solution merges the discharge capability into the output transistor's operation, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2323257B1Shift register with low power consumption
Publication Date: 2013.12.18 AU OPTRONICS CORP
  • EP2323257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2323257B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2323257B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shift register comprising a plurality of shift register stages {SN}, N=1, 2, ..., M, M being a nonzero positive integer. Each of the plurality of shift register stages, SN, comprises a first input, a second input, a third input for receiving a first clock signal CK, a fourth input for receiving a second clock signal XCK, an output for providing an output signal OUT(N), therefrom. The plurality of stages {SN} is electrically connected to each other in serial such that the first input of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the output of the (N-1)-th shift register stage SN-1 for receiving an output signal OUT(N-1) therefrom, the second input of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the output of the (N+1)-th shift register stage SN+1 for receiving an output signal OUT(N+1) therefrom, and the output of the shift register stage SN is electrically connected to the first input of the (N+1)-th shift register stage, SN+1 for providing the output signal OUT(N+1) thereto.