Source Driver Output Terminal Arrangement for Flexible Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design flexibility and manufacturing cost of active-matrix display devices are compromised due to the narrow pitch of output wirings when they are pulled out from the input side of the source driver, leading to reduced flexibility in arranging wirings and increased substrate size.
Innovation Solution
The output terminals of the source driver are classified into valid and invalid groups, with valid terminals arranged along the edge of the source driver, allowing for reduced wiring in the region between the short edge of the source driver and the flexible substrate, enhancing design flexibility and reducing substrate size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If output wirings are pulled out from output terminals at the input side of the source driver by passing under the source driver, then the flexibility for designing output wirings is improved, but the pitch between wirings becomes narrower making wiring arrangement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the output terminals into two distinct groups: valid output terminals arranged at the input side edge and invalid output terminals arranged at the output side edge. This segmentation allows output wirings to be pulled out from the input side without passing under the source driver, maintaining wide pitch and avoiding wiring arrangement difficulties while still achieving design flexibility through selective terminal usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces invalid output terminals as intermediary elements that serve as placeholders at the output side edge. These invalid terminals act as mediators that allow the valid terminals at the input side to be used for wiring connections without requiring the wirings to pass under the source driver, thus maintaining wide pitch while enabling flexible wiring design.
2Ease of manufacture
If output wirings are arranged in the region between the short edge of the source driver and the end of the flexible substrate, then connections can be made, but the design flexibility of the flexible substrate is reduced and the substrate size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wiring connection function from the region between the source driver and flexible substrate end by arranging valid output terminals directly at the input side edge of the source driver. This allows output wirings to be connected directly at the source driver location without extending into the flexible substrate region, thereby reducing the required substrate size while maintaining wiring connection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging output terminals at the output side edge and pulling wirings through the flexible substrate region, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing valid output terminals at the input side edge. This inversion allows wirings to be connected at the source driver end, eliminating the need for extended substrate regions and reducing overall substrate size.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a display device includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels and signal lines. A flexible substrate is electrically connected to the display panel through a connection portion. A driving circuit is mounted on the flexible substrate to drive the signal lines. The driving circuit includes first and second edges respectively opposing to input and output side ends of the flexible substrate, and a plurality of output terminals of the driving circuit are arranged along the first and second edges. The output terminals are set so as to be classified into two groups of valid output terminals to supply a signal to the signal lines and invalid output terminals not used to output a signal to the signal lines, and the valid output terminals are arranged along the second edge of the driving circuit so as to be sandwiched by the invalid output terminals.