Source Line Driver Circuit Switch Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional TFT-LCD display driver ICs require a large number of transmission switches, leading to increased occupying area and current consumption, which is undesirable for compact and energy-efficient designs.

Innovation Solution

A source line driver circuit is designed with a logic block that changes the number of bits in image data from serialized input to output, reducing the number of switches required, comprising a logic block and a source channel driver unit that provides analog voltages to source lines, thereby minimizing the number of transmission switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional decoder with multiple transmission switches is used to drive source lines, then the display function is achieved, but the occupying area and current consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay functionVSAvoidoccupying area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The decoder is divided into a logic block and multiple source channel driver units. The logic block processes serialized image data and generates control signals, while each source channel driver unit independently drives a specific source line. This segmentation reduces the number of transmission switches needed in the conventional decoder architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit uses dynamic control where the logic block receives serialized image data and dynamically generates control signals based on the data content. The source channel driver units dynamically select and output appropriate analog voltages based on the control signals, replacing static multiple transmission switches with dynamic control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a conventional decoder with multiple transmission switches is used to drive source lines, then the display function is achieved, but the current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay functionVSAvoidcurrent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The decoder is divided into a logic block and multiple source channel driver units. The logic block processes serialized image data and generates control signals, while each source channel driver unit independently drives a specific source line. This segmentation reduces the number of transmission switches needed in the conventional decoder architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit uses dynamic control where the logic block receives serialized image data and dynamically generates control signals based on the data content. The source channel driver units dynamically select and output appropriate analog voltages based on the control signals, replacing static multiple transmission switches with dynamic control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the number of transmission switches is reduced, then the occupying area and current consumption decrease, but the complexity of the decoder architecture changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupying areaVSAvoiddecoder architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical switch-based transmission system with a logic-based control system. The logic block uses logical operations to generate control signals that direct the source channel driver units, substituting physical transmission switches with logical control mechanisms that achieve the same function with fewer components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8638346B2Source line driver circuit and display apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A source line driver circuit and a display apparatus including the same are provided. The source line driver circuit includes a logic block configured to receive serialized image data, to change the number of bits of the image data, and to output image data having the changed number of bits, and a source channel driver unit configured to receive the image data having the changed number of bits and to provide at least one analog voltage corresponding to the received image data to source lines. Accordingly, the number of necessary switches may be reduced, and therefore, the required area and/or current consumption may also be reduced.