Source Driver Merging Data Buses for LCD Sub-Pixel Voltage Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LCD technologies face increased power consumption and electromagnetic interference due to the need for multiple data buses and high data transfer rates when driving multiple sub-pixels with different voltages for gray scale display, especially when viewed at wide angles.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves generating source line voltages for multiple sub-pixels from a single gray scale data, using a source driver that selects reference voltages from luminance curves to produce voltages for both sub-pixels, minimizing the need for multiple data buses and reducing power consumption and electromagnetic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple data buses are used to drive multiple sub-pixels with different voltages, then the display quality at wide angles is improved, but the power consumption and electromagnetic interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple data buses into a single data bus by generating multiple source line voltages from one gray scale data. The source driver receives one gray scale data and internally generates different voltages (ΔV1, ΔV2, etc.) for different sub-pixels, eliminating the need for multiple separate data buses and reducing power consumption while maintaining display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The source driver is designed to perform multiple functions: it receives a single gray scale data and generates multiple different voltages for different sub-pixels based on luminance curves. This multi-functional approach allows one data bus to serve multiple sub-pixels with different voltage requirements, reducing the overall system complexity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If multiple data buses are used to drive multiple sub-pixels with different voltages, then the display quality at wide angles is improved, but the electromagnetic interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data buses into a single data bus, reducing the number of signal transmission paths. By generating multiple source line voltages from one gray scale data through the source driver, the system minimizes electromagnetic interference while maintaining the ability to drive multiple sub-pixels with different voltages for wide angle display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If multiple data buses are used to drive multiple sub-pixels with different voltages, then the gray scale display accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegray scale display accuracyVSAvoiddata bus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data buses into one, reducing data bus complexity. The source driver compensates for this reduction by internally generating multiple different voltages from a single gray scale data using stored luminance curves, thereby maintaining gray scale display accuracy while simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The source driver acts as an intermediary between the single data bus and multiple sub-pixels. It receives the gray scale data and mediates the voltage distribution to different sub-pixels based on their specific requirements, eliminating the need for multiple data buses while preserving display accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Use of energy by moving object

If a single data bus is used to drive multiple sub-pixels, then the power consumption and electromagnetic interference are reduced, but the data transfer rate must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The source driver performs preliminary action by pre-storing luminance curves and pre-calculating the required voltages for different gray scale levels. When gray scale data is received, the driver quickly retrieves the corresponding voltages from the stored curves, eliminating the need for high data transfer rates while maintaining efficient power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7612788B2Driving multiple sub-pixels from single gray scale data

Publication Date: 2009.11.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

For generating source line voltages in a display device, gray scale data is received at a source driver for a first sub-pixel of a pixel. The source driver generates a first source line voltage for the first sub-pixel and a second source line voltage for a second sub-pixel from the gray scale data of the first sub-pixel. Thus, data transfer rate and/or data buses are minimized for in turn minimizing power consumption and EMI (electromagnetic interference).