Abstract:
An exemplary display module includes a panel and an identification circuit including at least two resistors. The identification circuit is disposed on the panel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to display modules, and especially relates to a display module with an identification circuit on its panel. 
       GENERAL BACKGROUND 
       [0002]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a conventional display module. The display module  10  includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel  11 , a flexible printed circuit (FPC)  13 , a chip  15 , and an identification circuit  17 . The FPC  13  is welded on the LCD panel  11 . The chip  15  and the identification circuit  17  are disposed on the FPC  13 . The identification circuit  17  includes a first resistor  171 , a second resistor  172 , and an output terminal  173 . The first resistor  171  is connected between the output terminal  173  and ground, and the second resistor  172  is connected between the output terminal  173  and a wire (not labeled) of the FPC  13 . That is, the first resistor  171  and the second resistor  172  form a voltage dividing circuit. 
         [0003]    When detecting the identification circuit  17 , a detecting terminal of a detecting device is put into contact with the output terminal  173  of the identification circuit  17 . However, because the FPC  13  is flexible, it is difficult for an operator to connect the detecting terminal of the detecting device with the output terminal  173  of the identification circuit  17 . 
         [0004]    Furthermore, the FPC  13  is accommodated in a frame (not shown) once the display module  10  is finally assembled. The FPC  13  takes up more space when the identification circuit  17  is disposed thereon. This is liable to increase a thickness of the whole display module  10 . 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a display module that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A display module includes a panel and an identification circuit including at least two resistors. The identification circuit is disposed on the panel. 
         [0007]    Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a display module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the display module including a panel and an identification circuit. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic view of the panel of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a display module according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the display module including a panel and an identification circuit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a display module  80  according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the display module including a panel and an identification circuit. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a conventional display module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a display module  20  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The display module  20  includes a panel  21 , a chip  23 , an identification circuit  25 , and an FPC  27 . The chip  23  and the identification circuit  25  are disposed on the panel  21 . The FPC  27  is welded on the panel  21 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed schematic view of the panel  21 . The panel  21  can be an LCD panel, and includes a thin film transistor substrate (not shown), a color filter substrate (not shown), and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposed therebetween. The panel  21  includes a plurality of electrodes  22 . Each of the electrodes  22  is connected to a solder joint  221 . The plurality of solder joints  221  is disposed on a solder area  210  of an edge of the thin film transistor substrate. The plurality of solder joints  221  are rectangular and parallel to each other. 
         [0019]    The plurality of electrodes  22  and the plurality of solder joints  221  are typically formed by a dry etching method. The electrodes  22  can be gate electrode wires of the thin film transistor substrate or source electrode wires of the thin film transistor substrate. The electrodes  22  can be made of conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), silver (Ag), silver oxide (Ag 2 O), platinum (Pt), or any suitable combination thereof. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit  25  of  FIG. 1 . The identification circuit  25  includes a first resistor  251 , a second resistor  252 , a first input terminal  253 , a second input terminal  255 , and an output terminal  254 . The first resistor  251  is connected between the first input terminal  253  and the output terminal  254 , and the second resistor  252  is connected between the output terminal  254  and the second input terminal  255 . That is, the first resistor  251  and the second resistor  252  form a voltage dividing circuit. The first input terminal  253  is connected to one of the electrodes  22 . The second input terminal  255  is connected to ground. The output terminal  254  is disposed on the solder area  210  and has the same shape as the solder joints  221 . The output terminal  254  is physically parallel to the solder joints  221 . A direct current voltage VDD is provided to the identification circuit  25  via the first input terminal  253 . 
         [0021]    The first resistor  251  and the second resistor  252  are typically formed by a dry etching method, and can be made of conductive material, such as indium tin oxide, silver, silver oxide, platinum, or any suitable combination thereof. 
         [0022]    When detecting the identification circuit  25 , it is only necessary for a detecting terminal of a detecting device to contact the output terminal  254 . Because the thin film transistor substrate is rigid, it is relatively easy for an operator to connect the detecting terminal of the detecting device with the output terminal  254 . 
         [0023]    Furthermore, because the identification circuit  25  is disposed on the panel  21 , the amount of electronic components disposed on the FPC  27  is correspondingly reduced. The FPC  27  can be more easily accommodated in a frame (not shown) of the display module  20 , and/or a size of the frame can be reduced. In the latter case, a thickness of the whole display module  20  can be correspondingly reduced. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a display module  40  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The display module  40  includes a plurality of electrodes  42  connected to a plurality of solder joints  421 , an identification circuit  45 , and an FPC  47 .  FIG. 5  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit  45 . The identification circuit  25  includes a first resistor  451 , a second resistor  452 , a first input terminal  453 , a second input terminal  455 , and an output terminal  454 . The display module  40  is similar to the display module  20 . However, the first input terminal  453  and the second input terminal  455  are disposed on a solder area  410  and have the same shape as the output terminal  454 . The first input terminal  453  and the second input terminal  455  are physically parallel to the output terminal  454 . 
         [0025]    When detecting the identification circuit  45 , firstly, a high level voltage is provided to the first input terminal  453  and a low level voltage is provided to the second input terminal  455 . Then the detecting terminal of the detecting device is put into contact with the output terminal  454 . 
         [0026]    Because the first input terminal  453  and the second input terminal  455  are not connected to any of the electrodes  42 , the identification circuit  45  has no influence on inner circuits of the display module  40 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a display module  80  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The display module  80  includes a panel  81 , a plurality of electrodes  82  connected to a plurality of solder joints  821 , an identification circuit  85 , and an FPC  87 .  FIG. 7  is an equivalent circuit diagram of the identification circuit  85 . The display module  80  is similar to the display module  20 . However, the identification circuit  85  includes a first resistor  851 , a second resistor  852 , a third resistor  853 , a fourth resistor  854 , a first input terminal  855 , a second input terminal  859 , a first output terminal  856 , a second output terminal  857 , and a third output terminal  858 . The first resistor  851  is connected between the first input terminal  855  and the first output terminal  856 . The second resistor  852  is connected between the first output terminal  856  and the second output terminal  857 . The third resistor  853  is connected between the second output terminal  857  and the third output terminal  858 . The fourth resistor  854  is connected between the third output terminal  858  and the second input terminal  859 . The first input terminal  855  is connected to one of the electrodes  82 . The second input terminal  859 , the first output terminal  856 , the second output terminal  857 , and the third output terminal  858  are disposed on a solder area  810  and have the same shape as the solder joints  821 . The second input terminal  859 , the first output terminal  856 , the second output terminal  857 , and the third output terminal  858  are physically parallel to the solder joints  821 . 
         [0028]    In alternative embodiments, for example, the first input terminal  855  can be disposed on the solder area  810  and not be connected to any electrode  82 . In such case, the first input terminal  855  can have the same shape as the solder joints  821 , and can be physically parallel to the solder joints  821 . 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the identification circuit  85  may have fewer than four resistors, or may have more than four resistors. 
         [0030]    It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.