Display device and mainboard applied in the display device

A display device includes: a display panel; a mainboard including a processing circuit, a signal transmission interface, and a signal conversion interface, wherein the signal conversion interface includes a first interface and a second interface, and the signal transmission interface is electrically connected to a signal transmission interface of the display panel; and an adaptation circuit electrically connected to the signal conversion interface, the first interface of the signal conversion interface being electrically connected to the processing circuit of the mainboard and the second interface of the signal conversion interface being electrically connected to the signal transmission interface of the mainboard.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2016/091703, filed Jul. 26, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and more particularly, to a display device and a mainboard applied in the display device.

BACKGROUND

In the production of televisions, manufacturers will release various different types of televisions to satisfy the requirements of different consumers, for example, using different sizes, appearances, display panels, etc. From the perspective of large-scale production, if there are many types of televisions, reducing the number of types of mainboards with the highest circuit complexity as much as possible will help to enhance the efficiency of production, sales, after-sales and maintenance services, and also quality control.

However, it may be difficult to use a uniform type of mainboards for televisions using different display panels. As for traditional display panels produced by various panel manufacturers, although connecting lines between signal transmission interfaces of the display panels and signal transmission interfaces of the mainboards are standard, signal properties such as line order definition, control interface, signal level polarity and the like are not unified, and the various panel manufacturers may not be willing to unify these signal properties considering their own benefits. Developing a specific mainboard separately for each type of display panel may increase the development cost significantly. Also, it may be hard to produce these mainboards in a same production line, which brings negative effects on production process control, inventory management, spare-parts management and maintenance, etc.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a display device, comprising: a display panel; a mainboard including a processing circuit, a signal transmission interface, and a signal conversion interface, wherein the signal conversion interface includes a first interface and a second interface, and the signal transmission interface is electrically connected to a signal transmission interface of the display panel; and an adaptation circuit electrically connected to the signal conversion interface, the first interface of the signal conversion interface being electrically connected to the processing circuit of the mainboard and the second interface of the signal conversion interface being electrically connected to the signal transmission interface of the mainboard.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a mainboard applied in a display device, comprising: a processing circuit; a signal transmission interface; and a signal conversion interface, wherein the signal conversion interface includes a first interface and a second interface.

It is to be understood that both the forgoing general descriptions and the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which same numbers in different drawings represent same or similar elements unless otherwise described. The implementations set forth in the following description of example embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of device and methods consistent with aspects related to the present disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a display device100, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 1, the display device100includes a mainboard11, a display panel12, and a connecting line13. In the exemplary embodiment, the display device100has a standard connection relation between the mainboard11and the display panel12.

The mainboard11may be a core of the display device100and used to implement various functions of the display device100, such as signal processing, image processing, sound processing, etc. A structure, circuits, and components of the mainboard11may determine the functions implemented by the mainboard11. The mainboard11includes a processing circuit111and a signal transmission interface112. The processing circuit111may be a core processing component of the mainboard11. For example, the processing circuit111may be a central processing unit (“CPU”) of the mainboard11, which may be used to implement various functions of the display device100.

For example, the display device100may be a television. The processing circuit111of the mainboard11of the television may include a power adaptation circuit, a driver board, a high voltage board, and a television (“TV”) board. The power adaptation circuit may be used to provide power by converting commercial power into a working voltage of the television. The driver board may be used to drive the display panel12to display signals. The driver board may mainly include a panel control circuit, a luminance control circuit, a DC-DC conversion circuit, a transistor-transistor logic (“TTL”) level signal transmission circuit, etc. The high voltage board may be used to boost the working voltage of the television to turn on a backlight of the display panel12. The TV board may be used to receive, demodulate, and decode a television signal.

The processing circuit111is electrically connected to the signal transmission interface112via a signal line, and transmits signals to the display panel12via the signal transmission interface112. The signals transmitted to the display panel12by the processing circuit111may be classified as high-speed signals and low-speed signals based on signal frequency. For example, the high-speed signals may be video signals, including but not limited to V-by-one signals, low voltage differential signaling (“LVDS”), etc.; and the low-speed signals may be other signals than the video signals, including but not limited to power signals, control signals, state signals, etc.

The signal transmission interface112of the mainboard11is electrically connected to a signal transmission interface121of the display panel12via the connecting line13. In some embodiments, the signal transmission interface112of the mainboard11and the signal transmission interface121of the display panel12may be timing control (“TCON”) interfaces. Both of the signal transmission interfaces112and121may be connected via a standard connecting line.

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of a display device200, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 2, the display device200includes a mainboard21, a display panel22, an adapter board23, a first connecting line24, and a second connecting line25.

The mainboard21includes a processing circuit211and a signal transmission interface212. The processing circuit211is electrically connected to the signal transmission interface212via a signal line, and transmits the signal to the adapter board23via the signal transmission interface212.

The adapter board23includes a first signal transmission interface231, an adaptation circuit232, and a second signal transmission interface233. The signal transmission interface212of the mainboard21is electrically connected to the first signal transmission interface231of the adapter board23via the first connection line24. The adaptation circuit232is electrically connected between the first signal transmission interface231and the second signal transmission interface233. The adaptation circuit232may be used to convert signal properties such as line order definition, control interface, and signal level polarity, etc. For example, the mainboard21may support a signal with a first signal property and the display panel22may support a signal with a second signal property. In this case, the adaptation circuit232may convert the signal with the first signal property acquired from the mainboard21into the signal with the second signal property, and then transmit the signal with the second signal property to the display panel22. The second signal transmission interface233of the adapter board23is electrically connected to the signal transmission interface221of the display panel22via the second connecting line25. The signal transmission interface212of the mainboard21, the first signal transmission interface231of the adapter board23, the second signal transmission interface233of the adapter board23, and the signal transmission interface221of the display panel22may be TCON interfaces.

In the display device200, it may be needed to additionally provide a fixing position to fix the adapter board23on the display panel22, and two groups of connecting lines may be necessary. Moreover, for high-speed signals such as video signals, when the high-speed signals transmit through the adapter board23, impedance discontinuous points may be introduced, which may impact signal quality and reliability of signal transmission, and may even result in incorrect display. Meanwhile, an electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) property may worsen.

The following embodiments may not only keep a single mainboard to adapt to various panels, but also avoid impairing signal quality of the high-speed signals. Moreover, it is not needed to provide an additional fixing position to fix an adapter board, and thus the cost may be reduced.

FIG. 3Ais a schematic diagram of a display device300a, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3A, the display device300aincludes a mainboard31, a display panel32, an adaptation circuit33, and a connecting line34.

The mainboard31includes a processing circuit311, a signal transmission interface312, and a signal conversion interface313. The signal conversion interface313includes a first interface313aand a second interface313b.

The adaptation circuit33is electrically connected to the signal conversion interface313. The first interface313ais electrically connected to the processing circuit311of the mainboard31, and the second interface313bis electrically connected to the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31.

The signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31is electrically connected to a signal transmission interface321of the display panel32via the connecting line34.

In the present embodiment, the processing circuit311of the mainboard31is electrically connected to the first interface313avia a first signal line314, and the second interface313bis electrically connected to the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31via a second signal line315.

In the present embodiment, by adding the signal conversion interface313on the mainboard31, the adaptation circuit33can be electrically connected to the mainboard31via the signal conversion interface313so as to perform signal transmission with the mainboard31. The adaptation circuit33may be used to convert signal properties such as line order definition, control interface, and signal level polarity, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the mainboard31supports a signal with a first signal property and the display panel32supports a signal with a second signal property. In this case, the process that the mainboard31transmits a signal to the display panel32may be as follows: the processing circuit311transmits a signal with the first signal property to the adaptation circuit33via the first signal line314and the first interface313a; the adaptation circuit33converts the signal with the first signal property into a signal with the second signal property; the adaptation circuit33transmits the signal with the second signal property to the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31via the second interface313band the second signal line315; the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31transmits the signal with the second signal property to the display panel32via the connecting line34and the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32. The process that the display panel32transmits a signal to the mainboard31may be as follows: the display panel32transmits a signal with the second signal property to the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31via the signal transmission interface321and the connecting line34; the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31transmits the signal with the second signal property to the adaptation circuit33via the second signal line315and the second interface313b; the adaptation circuit33converts the signal with the second signal property into a signal with the first signal property; the adaptation circuit33transmits the signal with the first signal property to the processing circuit311via the first interface313aand the first signal line314.

In the display device300aprovided in the present embodiment, by additionally providing the signal conversion interface313on the mainboard31and making the adaptation circuit33be electrically connected to the signal conversion interface313, signals to be transmitted to the display panel32may be converted by the adaptation circuit33and then transmitted to the display panel32via the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31; and signals received from the display panel32may be converted by the adaptation circuit33and then transmitted to the processing circuit311of the mainboard31. Therefore, a single mainboard may adapt to various display panels, and meanwhile it is unnecessary to provide an additional fixing position to fix an adapter board, only a set of connecting lines may be needed to connect the mainboard31and the display panel32, and thus the cost may be reduced.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the signal conversion interface313may have more than one implementation. In a first implementation, the first interface313aand the second interface313bincluded in the signal conversion interface313may be two logically separate interfaces, and the signal conversion interface313may actually be a single hardware interface rather than including two different hardware interfaces. In a second implementation, the first interface313aand the second interface313bincluded in the signal conversion interface313may be two physically separate interfaces, i.e., the first interface313aand the second interface313bmay be two different hardware interfaces respectively, and the signal conversion interface313may include the two different hardware interfaces.

FIG. 3Bis a schematic diagram of a display device300b, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3B, the display device300bincludes the mainboard31, the display panel32, the adaptation circuit33, and the connecting line34.

The mainboard31may be a core of the display device300band used to implement various functions of the display device300b, such as signal processing, image processing, sound processing, etc. The structure, circuits and components of the mainboard31may determine the functions that may be implemented by the mainboard31. In the present embodiment, the mainboard31includes the processing circuit311, the signal transmission interface312, and the signal conversion interface313. The processing circuit311may be a core processing component of the mainboard31. For example, the processing circuit311may be the CPU of the mainboard31and used to implement various functions of the display device300b.

The signal conversion interface313includes the first interface313aand the second interface313b. The adaptation circuit33is electrically connected to the signal conversion interface313. The first interface313ais electrically connected to the processing circuit311of the mainboard31, and the second interface313bis electrically connected to the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31.

The signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31is electrically connected to the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32via the connecting line34. In the present disclosure, types of the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31and the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32may not be limited. Any type of signal transmission interfaces that are capable of transmitting interaction signals required between the mainboard31and the display panel32may be applicable. For example, the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31and the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32may be TCON interfaces. Both of the signal transmission interfaces may be connected via a standard connecting line. Of course, the signal transmission interfaces312and321may also be implemented by other standardized types of interfaces, which are not limited in the present disclosure.

Different from the display device300ashown in theFIG. 3A, in the display device300bshown inFIG. 3B, the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31includes a high-speed signal transmission interface312aand a low-speed signal transmission interface312b.

The processing circuit311of the mainboard31is electrically connected to the high-speed signal transmission interface312avia a high-speed signal line316. The processing circuit311of the mainboard31is electrically connected to the first interface313avia a first low-speed signal line317, and the second interface313bis electrically connected to the low-speed signal transmission interface312bvia a second low-speed signal line318.

The signals transmitted between the mainboard31and the display panel32may be classified as high-speed signals and low-speed signals based on signal frequency. For example, the high-speed signals may refer to signals whose signal frequencies are greater than a preset threshold, while the low-speed signals may refer to signals whose signal frequencies are less than the preset threshold. The high-speed signal line316may be used to transmit high-speed signals. The first low-speed signal line317and the second low-speed signal line318may be used to transmit low-speed signals. For example, the high-speed signals may be video signals, including but not limited to V-by-one signals, LVDS signals and the like; and the low-speed signals may be other signals than video signals, including but not limited to power signals, control signals, state signals, etc.

For a high-speed signal, the processing circuit311of the mainboard31may transmit the high-speed signal to the display panel32directly via the high-speed signal line316and the high-speed signal transmission interface312a. That is, the processing circuit311of the mainboard31may transmit the high-speed signal to the high-speed signal transmission interface312aof the mainboard31via the high-speed signal line316, and the high-speed signal transmission interface312aof the mainboard31may transmit the high-speed signal to the display panel32via the connecting line34and the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32.

For a low-speed signal, it is assumed that the mainboard31supports a low-speed signal with a first signal property and the display panel32supports a low-speed signal with a second signal property. The process that the mainboard31transmits a low-speed signal to the display panel32may be as follows: the processing circuit311of the mainboard31transmits a low-speed signal with the first signal property to the adaptation circuit33via the first low-speed signal line317and the first interface313a; the adaptation circuit33converts the low-speed signal with the first signal property into a low-speed signal with the second signal property; the adaptation circuit33transmits the low-speed signal with the second signal property to the low-speed signal transmission interface312bof the mainboard31via the second interface313band the second low-speed signal line318; the low-speed signal transmission interface312bof the mainboard31transmits the low-speed signal with the second signal property to the display panel32via the connecting line34and the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32. The process that the display panel32transmits a low-speed signal to the mainboard31may be as follows: the display panel32transmits a low-speed signal with the second signal property to the low-speed signal transmission interface312bof the mainboard31via the signal transmission interface321and the connecting line34; the low-speed signal transmission interface312bof the mainboard31transmits the low-speed signal with the second signal property to the adaptation circuit33via the second low-speed signal line318and the second interface313b; the adaptation circuit33converts the low-speed signal with the second signal property into a low-speed signal with the first signal property; the adaptation circuit33transmits the low-speed signal with the first signal property to the processing circuit311via the first interface313aand the first low-speed signal line317.

In some embodiments, the signal transmission interface321of the display panel32may also include a high-speed signal transmission interface and a low-speed signal transmission interface (not shown), and the transmission line34may accordingly include a high-speed signal transmission line and a low-speed signal transmission line (not shown). The high-speed signal transmission interface312aof the mainboard31may be electrically connected to the high-speed signal transmission interface of the display panel32via the high-speed signal transmission line and used to transmit high-speed signals; the low-speed signal transmission interface312bof the mainboard31may be electrically connected to the low-speed signal transmission interface of the display panel32via the low-speed signal transmission line and used to transmit low-speed signals.

In the display device300ainFIG. 3A, the high-speed signals and the low-speed signals are not distinguished, and all the signals may be converted by the adaptation circuit33. It is considered that signal quality of high-speed signals, such as video signals, may be impaired after being converted by the adaptation circuit33, and pin definitions of the transmission interface of high-speed signals for various panel manufacturers are typically uniform, while pin definitions of the transmission interface of low-speed signals for various panel manufacturers are different. Thus, in the display device300binFIG. 3B, only the low-speed signals may be converted, while the high-speed signals may not be converted to avoid impairing their signal quality.

Still referring toFIG. 3B, in some embodiments, the adaptation circuit33may also include: a first predefined interface and/or a second predefined interface (not shown). The first predefined interface may be used to provide information associated with the display panel32to the mainboard31. For example, the first predefined interface may be used to provide an identity (“ID”) of the display panel32to the mainboard31, so as to make the mainboard31know a type of the display panel32to which it currently adapts and then call a corresponding driver to perform initialization or display operations. The information (e.g., ID) associated with the display panel32may be preconfigured into the adaptation circuit33. The second predefined interface may be used to provide a predefined control signal to the mainboard31, such as additional customized control signals. The implementations of the first predefined interface and the second predefined interface may include but not be limited to: a resistance, an inter-integrated circuit (“I2C”) interface and a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter (“UART”) interface. With the foregoing configuration, auxiliary signals other than common signals may be added to extend and improve the performance of the display device300b.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, in addition to the panel ID, the information associated with the display panel32may also include, but not be limited to, information regarding image quality adjustment parameters, Gamma curve, etc.

In some embodiments, the adaptation circuit33may also include a power conversion circuit (not shown) to provide power to the adaptation circuit33, for example, by acquiring electrical energy from the mainboard31and convert the electrical energy into the power suitable to the adaptation circuit33.

Moreover, the adaptation circuit33may be either a small circuit board or a wire harness, or other implementations. The adaptation circuit33may be plugged into the signal conversion interface313of the mainboard31via a connector without the need of additional fixing equipment.

In some embodiments, the adaptation circuit33may be connected to the display panel32by a predetermined manner. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the predetermined manner may not be limited. In an exemplary embodiment, the adaptation circuit33may be connected to the display panel32via a flexible line35. For example, this flexible line may be a rope. In another exemplary embodiment, the adaptation circuit33may be connected to the display panel32by a fixing component. For example, this fixing component may include a fastener and screws, so that an end of the fastener may be connected to the adaptation circuit33via a screw, while the other end of the fastener may be connected to the display panel32via another screw. Of course, other connection ways may also be employed between the adaptation circuit33and the display panel32to bind them together. The foregoing design may ensure that the adaptation circuit33can be bound to the display panel32after being manufactured, which may avoid an incorrect connection between the adaptation circuit33and the display panel32.

The display device300bmay be a television, and may also be any electronic device with a mainboard and a display panel, such as a personal computer (“PC”) display, light emitting diode (“LED”) display, etc.

In the display device300bprovided in the present embodiment, by additionally providing the signal conversion interface313on the mainboard31and making the adaptation circuit33be electrically connected to the signal conversion interface313, signals to be transmitted to the display panel32may be converted by the adaptation circuit33and then transmitted to the display panel32via the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31; and signals received from the display panel32may be converted by the adaptation circuit33and then transmitted to the processing circuit311of the mainboard31. Therefore, a single mainboard may adapt to various panels, and meanwhile it is unnecessary to provide an additional fixing position to fix an adapter board, only a set of connecting lines may be needed to connect the mainboard31and the display panel32, and thus the cost may be reduced.

Moreover, by dividing the signal transmission interface312of the mainboard31into the high-speed signal transmission interface312aand the low-speed signal transmission interface312b, the processing circuit311of the mainboard31may be electrically connected to the high-speed signal transmission interface312avia the high-speed signal line316, the processing circuit311of the mainboard31may be electrically connected to the first interface313avia the first low-speed signal line317, and the second interface313bmay be electrically connected to the low-speed signal transmission interface312bvia the second low-speed signal line318. Thus, the high-speed signals and the low-speed signals can be processed separately. For example, only the low-speed signals are converted while the high-speed signals are not converted so as to avoid impairing the signal quality of the high-speed signals.

Moreover, by adding predefined interfaces in the adaptation circuit33, auxiliary signals (e.g., ID of the display panel32or additional control signals) other than common signals may be added to extend and improve the performance of the display device300b.

Moreover, by connecting the adaptation circuit33and the display panel32with a flexible line, the design may ensure that the adaptation circuit33can be bound to the display panel32after being manufactured.

FIG. 4Ais a schematic diagram of a mainboard41aapplied in a display device, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 4A, the mainboard41aincludes a processing circuit411, a signal transmission interface412, and a signal conversion interface413. The signal conversion interface413includes a first interface413aand a second interface413b.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processing circuit411of the mainboard41ais electrically connected to the first interface413avia a first signal line414, and the second interface413bis electrically connected to the signal transmission interface412of the mainboard41avia a second signal line415.

FIG. 4Bis a schematic diagram of a mainboard41bapplied in a display device, according to an exemplary embodiment. Different from the mainboard41ainFIG. 4A, in the mainboard41binFIG. 4B, the signal transmission interface412of the mainboard41bincludes a high-speed signal transmission interface412aand a low-speed signal transmission interface412b. The processing circuit411of the mainboard41bis electrically connected to the high-speed signal transmission interface412avia a high-speed signal line416. The processing circuit411of the mainboard41bis electrically connected to the first interface413avia a first low-speed signal line417, and the second interface413bis electrically connected to the low-speed signal transmission interface412bvia a second low-speed signal line418.

In some embodiments, the high-speed signal line416may be used to transmit high-speed signals, and the first low-speed signal line417and the second low-speed signal line418may be used to transmit low-speed signals. For example, the high-speed signals may be video signals, and the low-speed signals may be other signals than the video signals.

In some embodiments, the signal transmission interface412of the mainboard41bmay be a TCON interface.

With respect to the foregoing embodiments regarding the mainboards41aand41b, reference can also be made to the description of the foregoing embodiments regarding the display devices300aand300b, which will not be repeated herein.

It should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise structure as described above and shown in the figures, but can have various modification and alternations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.