Method and LCD Control Circuit for Driving LCD

The present invention provides a driving method for an LCD and an LCD control circuit using the method thereof. The method includes three steps. Step 1 is that providing an LCD comprising an LCD panel and an LCD control circuit, including a display control unit, a timing controller and a microcontroller interface module, and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) is integrated into the timing controller. Step 2 is to operate a backlight scan, the timing controller reads EEPROM parameter from the installed EEPROM to generate reference timing for keeping operation of the display control unit under control, and the display control unit generates VSYNC signals. Step 3 is that the control circuit drives the panel to display images. The timing controller in the method integrating the EEPROM simplifies circuit design and raises product integration to reduce producing costs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the present invention provides a method for driving an LCD comprising the following steps:

Step1: Provide an LCD20comprising an LCD panel24and an LCD control circuit22electrically connected with the LCD panel24. The LCD control circuit22comprises a display control unit32, a timing controller34electrically connected with the display control unit32and a microcontroller (MCU) interface module38electrically connected with the display control unit32. An EEPROM342is integrated within the timing controller34.

A main board system end (not shown) electrically connected with the MCU interface module38is provided so that the main board system end transmits control signals to the display control unit32through the MCU interface module38.

EEPROM parameters are pre-stored in the EEPROM342. The timing controller34generates reference timing according to the EEPROM parameters, and the display control unit32drives the LCD panel24based on the reference timing.

The LCD control circuit22further comprises a display storage unit39and an LCD panel interface module36, and both are electrically connected with the display control unit32. The display control unit32in control of the timing controller34receives data and commands via the MCU interface module38. The display storage unit39and correspondent units store and operate according to the data and commands. The LCD control circuit22drives the LCD panel24to show images.

Step2: Perform a backlight scan. The timing controller34reads the EEPROM parameters from the EEPROM342to generate the reference timing keeping operation of the display control unit32under control, and the display control unit32generates vertical synchronous (VSYNC) signals.

In the preferred embodiment, the step further comprises that the main board system end provides 3D_EN signals to the display control unit32via the MCU interface module38and then controls the LCD20to switch between a 2D mode and a 3D mode when operating the backlight scan.

During a backlight scan, in contrast to generating VSYNC signals and 3D_EN signals by CB in the prior art, the present invention proposes that the VSYNC signals are generated from the display control unit32and the 3D_EN signals are generated from the main board system end to the display control unit32via the MCU interface module38. Therefore, the LCD panel24is normally driven even if the EEPROM342is integrated within the timing controller34.

Step3: the LCD control circuit22drives the LCD panel24to display images according to the VSYNC signals from the display control unit32, the reference timing from the timing controller34and the displayed data and commands received from the MCU interface module38

In the present invention, the LCD switches display modes between a 2D or 3D mode according to the 3D_EN signals from the main board system end. Whatever 2D or 3D mode it is, the LCD control circuit22always drives the LCD panel24to display images according to the VSYNC signals from the display control unit32, the reference timing from the timing controller34and the displayed data and commands received from the MCU interface module38

The method for driving the LCD according to the present invention simplifies circuit design and saves producing costs by integrating the EEPROM342into the timing controller34and using the display control unit32to generate VSYNC signals and using the system end to generate 3D_EN signals to the display control unit32via the MCU interface module38.

Refer toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the present invention further provides an LCD control circuit comprising the display control unit32, the timing controller34electrically connected with the display control unit32and the MCU interface module38electrically connected with the display control unit32. An EEPROM342is integrated within the timing controller34. The LCD control circuit according to the present invention integrating the EEPROM342into the timing controller34simplifies circuit design, raises product integration and reduces producing costs to miniaturize products to raise market competition.

EEPROM parameters are pre-stored in the EEPROM342, the timing controller34generates reference timing according to the EEPROM parameter pre-stored in the EEPROM342, and the display control unit32drives the LCD panel24based on the reference timing.

The LCD control circuit22further comprises a display storage unit39and the LCD panel interface module36, both the monitor storage unit39and the LCD panel interface module36are electrically connected to the display control unit32. The display control unit32in control of the timing controller34receives data and commands via the MCU interface module38. The display storage unit39and correspondent units store and operate according to the data and commands. The LCD control circuit22drives the LCD panel24to show images.

The MCU interface module38is further electrically connected with a main board system end (not shown), and the main board system end provides 3D_EN signals to the display control unit32via the MCU interface module38to control the LCD to switch between the 2D mode and the 3D mode.

During a backlight scan, in contrast to generating VSYNC signals and 3D_EN signals by CB in the prior art, the present invention proposes that the VSYNC signals are generated from the display control unit32and the 3D_EN signals are generated from the main board system end to the display control unit32via the MCU interface module38. Therefore, the LCD panel24is normally driven even if the EEPROM342is integrated within the timing controller34.

In sum, the present invention provides the method for driving the LCD integrating the EEPROM into the timing controller and using the display control unit to generate VSYNC signals, and the main board system end generates 3D_EN signals so that it simplifies circuit design and saves producing costs. The present invention further provides the LCD control circuit capable of simplifying circuit design, integrating more circuit and saving producing costs to miniaturize the products to boost market competition.