Abstract:
An apparatus and method can convert digital data to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD. The apparatus includes a data bus containing digital data. A row buffer is coupled to the data bus for receiving and distributing the digital data. A switch network is coupled to the row buffer for converting the digital data received from the row buffer to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/446,651, filed on Feb. 11, 2003, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices usually consist of two-dimensional arrays of thin-film circuit elements (pixels). Each pixel cooperates with liquid-crystal material to either transmit or prevent light travel through a column of liquid crystal material. The physical size of the pixel array is determined by the application.  
           [0003]    A two-dimensional (2D) array, for example, can include two sets of conductive lines extending in perpendicular directions. Each line extending in one direction can provide signals to a column of the array; each line extending in another direction can provide signals to a row of the array.  
           [0004]    Conventionally, each row-column position in a 2D array includes a pixel that responds to signals on the lines for the pixel&#39;s row and column combination. Through one set of parallel lines, illustratively called “data lines,” each pixel receives signals that determine its state. Through the other set of parallel lines, illustratively called “scan lines,” each pixel along a scan line receives a signal that enables the pixel to receive signals from its data line.  
           [0005]    In conventional arrays, each scan line provides a periodic scan signal that enables a component in each pixel connected to the scan line to receive a signal from its data line during a brief time interval of each cycle. Therefore, tight synchronization of the scan signals with signals on the data lines is critical to successful array operation. Tight synchronization in turn requires that the driving signals to the data lines be provided with precise timing.  
           [0006]    The circuitry driving the data lines is termed the “data scanner.” The circuitry driving the scan lines is termed the “select scanner.” 
           [0007]    The arrays are built on substrates, usually of glass or quartz. The pixel arrays require driving and interface circuitry, and in most cases this circuitry is analog rather than digital, making the circuitry capable of delivering or sensing a range of input signals. However, in many applications the video signal originates in digital form and must be converted to analog form to drive the display. Suitable digital-to-analog (DAC) conversion circuitry can be built using well-known techniques in conventional silicon integrated circuits (ICs). These ICs are mounted on or adjacent to the substrate containing the pixel array and a large number of electrical connections are made between the two. The cost of the peripheral drive, interface chips, mounting, and electrical connections to the display can constitute a significant proportion of the overall cost of a system containing the display.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    If the ICs and connections can be eliminated or greatly reduced by integrating suitable circuitry on the substrate, then the system cost can be reduced and its reliability improved.  
           [0009]    An apparatus and method can convert digital data to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD. The apparatus can include a data bus containing digital data. A row buffer can be coupled to the data bus for receiving and distributing the digital data. A switch network can be coupled to the row buffer for converting the digital data received from the row buffer to analog data using column load capacitances on adjacent pairs of column lines of the LCD.  
           [0010]    The switch network can include a plurality of switching devices, where each switching device can be coupled to an adjacent respective pair of column lines of the LCD. Each switching device can include a logic circuit which can receive digital data from the row buffer and at least three MOSFETs which can convert the received digital data received from the logic circuit to analog data and transmit the analog data through respective column lines. The MOSFETs can be n-channel MOSFETs, p-channel MOSFETs, or a combination of n-channel and p-channel MOSFETs.  
           [0011]    A first column line of the pair of column lines can be coupled to alternating pixels in a first column of pixels and a second column line of the pair of column lines can be coupled to alternating pixels in a second column of pixels. The pixels of the first column line can be in alternating rows with respect to the pixels in the second column line.  
           [0012]    The pixels can be arranged in a rectangular layout for a black and white display or the pixels can be arranged in a delta layout for a color display. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art data scanner;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2A is a schematic representation of a typical pixel layout for a black and white (B/W) display for the data scanner of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2B is a schematic representation of a typical pixel layout for a color display for the data scanner of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2C is a circuit diagram of a typical pixel of FIGS. 2A and 2B;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3A-3I are circuit diagrams of a DAC of FIG. 1 converting a digital signal to an analog signal;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a data scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of a typical pixel layout for a B/W display for the data scanner of FIG. 4;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5B is a schematic representation of a typical pixel layout for a color display for the data scanner of FIG. 4; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a switch device of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows a data scanner  50  and column load capacitances  160  of an LCD  100 . The data scanner  50  includes integrated DACs  140  and amplifiers  150  to drive the column load capacitance  160  of the display  100 . The configuration can be used to drive the column load capacitances  160  of black and white (B/W) or color displays. Generally, a row buffer  110  distributes digital data arriving from a data bus  130  to the DACs  140  on a pulse received from a clock  120 . The DACs  140  operate in parallel and receive the digital data and convert the digital data to analog signals. Because the DACs  140  typically provide a high impedance output, display applications need the amplifiers  150  to drive the column load capacitance  160 . In particular, the switched-capacitor DACs  140  require the amplifiers  150  because the column load capacitances  160  are typically greater than practically realizable DAC capacitors  330 ,  340  (FIGS. 3A-3I). Thus, the amplifiers  150  provide a greater output to the column load capacitances  160  of column lines  135  of the display  100 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2A shows a typical pixel array and column line  135  layout for a display  100  with pixels  200  in a “rectangular” arrangement, while FIG. 2B shows a typical pixel array and column line  135  layout for a display  100  with pixels in a “delta” arrangement. The “rectangular” arrangement is commonly used for B/W displays, while the “delta” arrangement is commonly used for color displays. The letters RGB stand for Red, Green, and Blue and are well known in the art for color displays. Rectangular pixels  200  are used in both black-and-white and color displays, typically with square pixels for monochrome and rectangular stripes (height:width ratio=3:1) for color.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2C shows a circuit diagram of a typical pixel  200  as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The typical pixel  200  includes a MOSFET transistor  220  and a capacitor  160 . Each pixel  200  is connected to a row line  210  and a column line  135 . The row line  210  controls the gate of MOSFET  220 , which turns the pixel on and off. When the MOSFET  220  is turned on, the pixel  200  is driven by the column load capacitance  160  (FIG. 1) on the column line  135 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3A-3I shows a switched-capacitor DAC  140  converting a digital signal to an analog signal. The simple bit-serial DAC  140  includes two capacitors  330 ,  340  and two switches  310 ,  320 . Switch  310  may be connected high, connected low, or left open. Switch  320  may connect the top plates of capacitors  330  and  340  or may be left open. Bit-parallel DACs using more capacitors and appropriate switch configurations can also be used. In this example, as illustrated sequentially in FIGS. 3A-3I, a 16 bit digital input code, 1101 or 16 decimal, is converted to an analog signal which is {fraction (13/16)} V FS , where V FS =full-scale output voltage.  
         [0027]    Numerous problems arise when using switch-capacitor DACs  140  and associated amplifiers  150  (FIG. 1). First, the capacitors  330 ,  340  of the DACs  140  must be well-matched for predictable charge sharing. The example of FIGS. 3A-3I relies on the capacitors  330 ,  340  being equal, so that the charge is shared equally when switch  320  is closed. Second, it is hard to integrate DACs  140  on fine pitch column lines  135  because more area is needed for well-matched DAC capacitors  330 ,  340 . If the DAC capacitors  330 ,  340  are too small, then undesirable parasitic capacitances become more significant. Third, it is hard to integrate numerous amplifies  150  (FIG. 1) on the display  100  because the amplifiers  150  need to be low power, have good matching (i.e., to prevent vertical lines in the image), and be integrated with fine pitch column lines. Lastly, multiplexers may need to be used to share DACs  140  and amplifiers  150  because of size restrictions, adding more complexity to the display  100 .  
         [0028]    Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need for specific switched-capacitor DACs  140  and their associated amplifiers  150 . As shown in FIG. 4, the DACs  140  and amplifiers  150  (FIGS. 1-31) of the data scanner  50  are replaced by a switch network that utilizes the column line capacitances  160  to convert the digital signals to analog signals. That is, new switched capacitor DACs are constructed using the switch network and the column load capacitances  160  as the DAC capacitors. In this configuration, a row buffer  110  distributes digital data arriving from a data bus  130  to switches  410  on a pulse received from a clock  120 . The switches  410  convert the digital data to analog signals using the column load capacitances  160  of an adjacent pair of column lines  135 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5A shows pixel array layout connections required to convert the digital signal to an analog signal using the switch  410  and column load capacitances  160  for B/W displays, while FIG. 5B shows pixel array layout connections for color displays. As shown, a rectangular layout is commonly used for B/W displays and a “delta” layout is commonly used for color displays. Each column line pair  500  is connected to one pixel  200  per row. The column pairs  500  have matched column capacitances if they have the same number of left and right connected pixels  200 . The use of column line pairs  500  suggests more display area, which reduces the active pixel aperture. However, in anticipated technology, the pixel aperture is limited by optical, LC, and other issues and not by the interconnect pitch.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram of the switch  410  of FIG. 4. The switch  410  includes five MOSFET transistors  610 ,  620 ,  630 ,  640 , and  650 . The gates of each MOSFET are connected to a logic circuit  660 . The logic circuit  660  contains the digital data received from the row buffer  110  (FIG. 4) and distributes the digital data to the MOSFETs. MOSFETs  610  and  630  perform a similar operation of switch  310  of FIG. 3. MOSFET  610  can drive the column high to VFS, MOSFET  630  can drive it low, or both MOSFETs can be turned off for an open connection. Similarly, MOSFET  650  performs a similar operation of switch  320  of FIG. 3, connecting the two columns to equalize charge. Optional MOSFETs  620  and  640  are provided for symmetry to MOSFETs  610  and  630 . The circuit can be operated with MOSFETs  610  and  630  driving the left column line while, charge is accumulating on the right column line, or else with MOSFETs  620  and  640  driving the right column line, while charge is accumulating on the left column line.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 uses n-channel MOSFETs for switches. However, P-channel MOSFET or complementary pairs of n- and p-channel MOSFETs may also be used. Additional MOSFETs may be used for charge injection cancellation, using the well-known technique in which both source and drain of a compensating MOSFET are connected to the high-impedance side of the switch, and in which the gate of the compensating MOSFET is driven with the logical inverse of the gate of the switch MOSFET, and in which the compensating MOSFET is one half the size of the switch MOSFET.  
         [0032]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.