Single-Wire Series Circuit Disconnection Detection Without Backup Pins
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing jumper solution for detecting disconnection points in driver links of LCD displays increases packaging and PCB costs due to the addition of backup pins and extra circuit lines, which are prone to crossover routing.
Innovation Solution
A disconnection point detection method for single-wire series circuits using a parallel bus structure and Serial and Parallel Broadcast Communication Protocol (SPB protocol) to identify disconnection points without adding backup pins, reducing packaging and PCB costs by utilizing correction commands and address-assignment information to determine the position of disconnection points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the jumper solution is used to detect disconnection points, then disconnection point detection capability is improved, but packaging cost and PCB cost increase due to additional backup pins and circuit lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the physical jumper circuit implementation and relocates it to the software/firmware level through the SPB protocol. The address-assignment information itself serves as the detection mechanism, eliminating the need for separate backup pins and circuit lines while maintaining disconnection detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The address-assignment information in the SPB protocol serves multiple functions simultaneously: it assigns addresses to driver units and detects disconnection points. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated detection circuits, reducing packaging and PCB complexity while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If the jumper solution is used, then disconnection point detection is enabled, but the number of circuit lines increases and crossover routing becomes more prone
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is extracted from the physical circuit layer and implemented at the protocol/software layer. The existing single-wire serial communication bus is repurposed to carry both address-assignment information and disconnection detection, eliminating the need for additional circuit lines and simplifying PCB routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the detection mechanism from the spatial dimension (physical circuit lines) to the temporal/information dimension (protocol timing and data interpretation). Disconnection detection is achieved by analyzing the presence and completeness of address-assignment information in the serial communication stream, rather than through physical circuit paths.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a disconnection point detection method for single-wire series circuits, a single-wire series circuit, and a driver architecture. The method utilizes the existing parallel bus structure of the single-wire series circuit to detect disconnection points. Specifically, the position of the final short-circuit disconnection point is determined using the first correction command and the second address-assignment information, while the position of the final open-circuit disconnection point is determined using the second and third correction commands along with the third address-assignment information. The present application eliminates the need to add additional backup pins to each driver unit, thereby reducing the packaging cost of the single-wire series circuit and significantly lowering the packaging cost of the driver architecture. Furthermore, since the single-wire series circuit does not require routing for extra backup pins, the wiring complexity of the driver architecture is greatly simplified, leading to a reduction in PCB costs.