Patent Publication Number: US-2018031916-A1

Title: Liquid crystal television device and system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to display technical field, especially to a liquid crystal television (TV) device and system 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     LCD have advantages of thin body, electricity-saving and power consumption, image steady, no irradiation and so on so that are favored by the users. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a conventional LCD  10  usually comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) body  11 , a timer control register (T-CON) control circuit board  12  and a System-On-a-Chip (SOC) main control circuit board  13  and so on. The SOC main control circuit board  13  is mainly used to receive the video signal from the cable digital TV set-top box and then to acquire the display signal for the LCD body by processing the video signal. The T-CON control circuit board  12  is used to drive the LCD body  11  to display according to the display signal transmitted from the SOC main control circuit board  13  so that the images are displayed. 
     Further, the SOC main control circuit board  13  has various kinds of connectors, besides for receiving the void signal from the digital TV set-top box and also for preforming various operation to the LCD through a SOC chip own system and APP (a third party application, Application). Also, the SOC main control circuit board  13  can also receive the video signal transmitted from a smart set-top box  14  (such as Baidu box, Tmall box, Mi box) so that the TV can directly play the video of the smart set-top box. The smart set-top box  14  usually has a power connector to connect to the external power such as 220V household power to be supplied power by the external power. 
     Presently, the functions of the smart set-top box  14  are stronger and stronger. It not only has a great amount of videos but also can access internet wirelessly, can install various of APPs by itself and has the same function with the conventional digital TV set-top box to broadcast TV channels. Those functions are performed to play by transmitting to the SOC main control circuit board  13 . However, when the SOC main control circuit board  13  connects to the smart set-top box  14 , it only plays the role to convert the format of the signal and its own function is weakened and ignored. As a result, the most circuits on the SOC main control circuit board  13  are at idle status to cause the resources waste so that is harmful to lower the cost and the complexity of the circuit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide to lower the cost of the TV and to be beneficial to simplify the internal structure of the TV device. 
     To solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a technical way to provide a LCD device comprising a LCD body, a T-CON control circuit board and an adapting board, wherein: the T-CON control circuit board connects to the LCD body and is adapted for connecting to an external content providing apparatus; the T-CON control circuit board comprises a converting circuit, a T-CON control circuit and a first connector; the first connector is adapted for connecting to the content providing apparatus; the converting circuit converts a video signal receiving through the first connector from the content providing apparatus to a signal to be displayed for the LCD body, and transmits the signal to be displayed to the T-CON control circuit; the T-CON control circuit drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed; the LCD device does not have an SOC main control circuit board; and the content providing apparatus is a smart set-top box; the first connector is adapted for connecting a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) of the content providing apparatus; and the first connector connects the converting board to adapted for connecting the content providing apparatus through the converting board. 
     Further, it further comprises a power circuit board, wherein the power circuit board comprises a power circuit and a transformer circuit; the power circuit connects to the transformer circuit; the transformer circuit connects to the T-CON control circuit to supply power to the T-CON control circuit; the transformer circuit also connects to the first connector to adapted for supplying power to the content providing apparatus through the first connector; the transformer circuit also connects to a backlight driving circuit of the LCD body to supply a driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit; and wherein the first connector comprises: a working voltage output lead adapted to output a desired working voltage to the content providing apparatus for working normally; a standby voltage output lead adapted to output a desired standby voltage to the content providing apparatus for standby; and an enable signal lead adapted to receive an enable signal sending from the content providing apparatus, transmitting the enable signal to the transformer circuit so that the transformer circuit provides driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit of the LCD body. 
     Further, it further comprises at least two signal transmitting circuit boards, wherein the T-CON control circuit respectively connects to the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards; the T-CON control circuit generates desired control signals respectively for gate driving circuits and data driving circuits according to the signal to be displayed and correspondingly transmits the control signals to the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits on the LCD body through the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards to control the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits to drive the LCD body to display images. 
     Further, at least one of the signal transmitting circuit boards and the T-CON control circuit board are assembled on the same circuit board. 
     To solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a technical way to provide an LCD device comprising an LCD body and a T-CON control circuit board, wherein: the T-CON control circuit board connects to the LCD body and is adapted for connecting to an external content providing apparatus to convert a video signal receiving from the content providing apparatus to a signal to be displayed for the LCD body, drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed; and the LCD device does not have an SOC main control circuit board. 
     Further, the T-CON control circuit board comprises a converting circuit, a T-CON control circuit and a first connector; the first connector is adapted for connecting to the content providing apparatus; the converting circuit converts the video signal receiving through the first connector from the content providing apparatus to the signal to be displayed for the LCD body, and transmits the signal to be displayed to the T-CON control circuit; and the T-CON control circuit drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed. 
     Further, the content providing apparatus is a smart set-top box; the first connector is adapted for connecting an HDMI of the content providing apparatus. 
     Further, it further comprises a power circuit board, wherein the power circuit board comprises a power circuit and a transformer circuit; the power circuit connects to the transformer circuit; the transformer circuit connects to the T-CON control circuit to supply power to the T-CON control circuit; the transformer circuit also connects to the first connector to adapted for supplying power to the content providing apparatus through the first connector; the transformer circuit also connects to a backlight driving circuit of the LCD body to supply a driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit; and wherein the first connector comprises: a working voltage output lead adapted to output a desired working voltage to the content providing apparatus for working normally; a standby voltage output lead adapted to output a desired standby voltage to the content providing apparatus for standby; and an enable signal lead adapted to receive an enable signal sending from the content providing apparatus, transmitting the enable signal to the transformer circuit so that the transformer circuit provides driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit of the LCD body. 
     Further, it further comprises an adapting board, wherein the first connector connects to the adapting board to adapted for connecting to the content providing apparatus through the adapting board. 
     Further, it further comprises at least two signal transmitting circuit boards, wherein the T-CON control circuit respectively connects to the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards; the T-CON control circuit generates desired control signals respectively for gate driving circuits and data driving circuits according to the signal to be displayed and correspondingly transmits the control signals to the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits on the LCD body through the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards to control the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits to drive the LCD body to display images. 
     Further, at least one of the signal transmitting circuit boards and the T-CON control circuit board are assembled on the same circuit board. 
     To solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a technical way to provide an LCD system comprises an LCD body and a T-CON control circuit board; the T-CON control circuit board connects to the LCD body and connects to the external content providing apparatus to convert a video signal receiving from the content providing apparatus to a signal to be displayed for the LCD body, and drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed; and the LCD device does not have an SOC main control circuit board. 
     Further, the T-CON control circuit board comprises a converting circuit, a T-CON control circuit and a first connector; the first connector is adapted for connecting to the content providing apparatus; the converting circuit converts the video signal receiving through the first connector from the content providing apparatus to the signal to be displayed for the LCD body, and transmits the signal to be displayed to the T-CON control circuit; and the T-CON control circuit drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed. 
     Further, the content providing apparatus is a smart set-top box; the first connector is adapted for connecting an HDMI of the content providing apparatus; the LCD system further comprises a power circuit board, wherein the power circuit board comprises a power circuit and a transformer circuit; the power circuit connects to the transformer circuit; the transformer circuit connects to the T-CON control circuit to supply power to the T-CON control circuit; the transformer circuit also connects to the first connector to supply power to the content providing apparatus through the first connector; the transformer circuit also connects to a backlight driving circuit of the LCD body to supply a driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit; and wherein the first connector comprises: a working voltage output lead to output a desired working voltage to the content providing apparatus for working normally; a standby voltage output lead to output a desired standby voltage to the content providing apparatus for standby; and an enable signal lead to receive an enable signal sending from the content providing apparatus, transmitting the enable signal to the transformer circuit so that the transformer circuit provides driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit of the LCD body. 
     Further, it further comprises an adapting board, wherein the first connector connects to the adapting board to connect to the content providing apparatus through the adapting board. 
     Further, it further comprises at least two signal transmitting circuit boards, wherein the T-CON control circuit respectively connects to the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards; the T-CON control circuit generates desired control signals respectively for gate driving circuits and data driving circuits according to the signal to be displayed and correspondingly transmits the control signals to the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits on the LCD body through the at least two signal transmitting circuit boards to control the gate driving circuits and the data driving circuits to drive the LCD body to display images. 
     Further, at least one of the signal transmitting circuit boards and the T-CON control circuit board are assembled on the same circuit board. 
     The beneficial effect is: comparing to the prior art, in the present invention, the LCD device does not have the SOC main control circuit board. Through the T-CON control circuit board connecting to the content providing apparatus to convert a video signal receiving from the content providing apparatus to a signal to be displayed for the LCD body, the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed is achieved. Since achieving the display of the TV device does not need the SOC main control circuit board, the SOC main control circuit board is deleted to eliminate the low utilization module. Then the manufacturing cost is lower, the TV system is optimized, and the internal structure of the TV device is also simplified. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the structure of a conventional LCD; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of one embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of another embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of still another embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of still another embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of one embodiment of the structure of an LCD system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the following embodiments of the present invention are described in detail. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention, the LCD device  20  comprises an LCD body  21  and a T-CON control circuit board  22 . Further, the LCD device  20  does not have an SOC main control circuit board. 
     The T-CON control circuit board  22  connects to the LCD body and is used to connect to an external content providing apparatus  23  to convert the video signal from the content providing apparatus  23  to a signal to be displayed for the LCD body  21  and drives the LCD body to display images according to the signal to be displayed. Thus, the LCD body  21  to display is achieved. 
     In this embodiment, with the signal converting function added in the T-CON control circuit board to convert the video content from the content providing apparatus  24  to the display signal for the LCD body  21 . Thus, there is no need to additionally mount an SOC main control circuit board and the broadcast function can still be achieved so that the SOC main control circuit board component can be eliminated from the LCD device  20  to be beneficial to lower the cost. Besides, the circuit to achieve the signal converting function is only needed to be added in the T-CON control circuit board. The complexity of the circuit is far less than the complexity of the SOC main control circuit board to simplify the structure. Therefore, with the signal converting function is assembled in the T-CON control circuit board  22  but not additionally add a circuit board for converting signal to further simplify the structure and to be beneficial to reduce the space occupied by the circuit board, and is beneficial to the development of the LCD device to be light and thin. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of another embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the components with the same referenced number have the same function. Further, the T-CON control circuit board  22  comprises a T-CON control circuit  221 , a converting circuit  222  and a first connector  223 . The T-CON control circuit  221  connects to the LCD body  21  and connects to the converting circuit  222 . The first connector  223  is used to connect the content providing apparatus  23 . 
     Further, the converting circuit  222  is used to convert the video signal from the content providing apparatus  23  to a desired signal to be displayed for the LCD body  21  and transmits the signal to be displayed to the T-CON control circuit  221 . The T-CON control circuit  221  drives the LCD body  21  to display images according to received signal to be displayed. 
     Further, the content providing apparatus  23  may be a smart set-top box such as Baidu box, Tmall box, Mi box and may also be other content providing apparatus. The first connector  233  of the T-CON control circuit board  22  is an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) for connecting the connector of the content providing apparatus  23 , i.e. the content providing apparatus  23  provides video contents to be HD (High Definition) video data. 
     Continually with reference to  FIG. 3 , the LCD device  20  further comprises a power circuit board  2  and a backlight driving circuit  25 . The back-light driving circuit  25  is a circuit in the backlight module to drive the backlight of the LCD body  21  to be illuminated. The power circuit board  24  comprises a power circuit  241  and a transformer circuit  242 . The power circuit  241  is an AC/DC conversion circuit to connect the external power (such as 220V household AC power) for converting the voltage input by the external power such as converting alternating current into direct current, and outputs the converted voltage to the transformer circuit  242 . The transformer circuit  252  respectively connects to the T-CON control circuit  221 , the first connector  233  and the backlight driving circuit  25 . 
     In addition, in this embodiment, the power for the content providing apparatus  23  is supplied by the LCD device  20  and shares the power circuit  241  with the LCD device  20 . Specifically, the transformer circuit  242  supplies power to the T-CON control circuit  221  based on the supplied voltage from the power circuit  241 , and supplies power to the content providing apparatus  23  through the first connector  223 . 
     Further, the first connector  223  comprises a working voltage output lead, a standby voltage output lead and an enable signal lead. The transformer circuit  242  outputs the desired working voltage to the content providing apparatus  23  for working normally through the working voltage output lead, and outputs the desired standby voltage to the content providing apparatus  23  for standby through the standby voltage output lead. Thus, the power supplied to the content providing apparatus  23  is achieved. Further, the working voltage output by the working voltage output lead may be 12V or 24V, or any other output voltage. The standby voltage output by the standby voltage output lead may be 5V or any other standby voltage such as 3V or 2V. The output voltages by the working voltage output lead and the standby voltage output lead may be determined according to the model number of the content providing apparatus  23 , and is not limited here. 
     Further, the transformer circuit  242  is also used to transform the voltage supplied by the power circuit  241  to the desired driving voltage for the backlight driving circuit  25  and outputs the driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit  25 . Thus, the backlight driving circuit  25  drives the backlight to be illuminated so that the LCD body  21  can display the images. 
     In addition, the transformer circuit  242  receives the enable signal from the content providing apparatus  23  through the enable signal lead of the first connector  223 . When the content providing apparatus  23  is turned on or is switched from the standby status to the working status, an enable signal is transmitted to the LCD device  20  to notify the LCD device  20  to be about to work. The transformer circuit  242  receives the enable signal and provides driving voltage to the backlight driving circuit  25  according to the enable signal so that the backlight driving circuit  25  drives the backlight to be illuminated. 
     Continually with reference to  FIG. 3 , the LCD device  20  further comprises at least two signal transmitting circuit board  26 . Further, the non-display area around the LCD body  21  bonds the gate driving circuit connecting to the scanning lines of the LCD body and the data driving circuit connecting to the data lines of the LCD body  21 . Further, the gate driving circuit specifically is a gate driving IC. The data driving circuit specifically is a data driving IC. The gate driving IC and the data driving IC all use COF (Chip On Film) technic to proceed package. The COF is the technic that uses the flexible circuit board (FPC) as a package carrier to secure the IC on the FPC. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the FPC to secure the gate driving IC is a gate COF  27 . The FPC to secure the data driving IC is a data COF  28 . Since the amount of the IC is much more, the amount of the gate COF  27  and the data COF  28  are respectively also more than one. Each gate COF  27  has multiple gate driving IC packaged thereon. Each data COF  28  has multiple data driving IC packaged thereon. Further, the multiple gate COFs  27  are arranged sequentially along a short side of the LCD body  21 . The multiple data COFs  28  are arranged sequentially along a longitudinal side of the LCD body  21 . 
     The T-CON control circuit  221  is mainly used to generate the desired control signals respectively for the gate driving ICs and the data driving ICs according to the signal to be displayed. The signal transmitting circuit board  26  has multiple transmitting wires to correspondingly transmit the control signals generated by the T-CON control circuit  221  to the gate driving ICs on the gate COFs  27  and the data driving ICs on the data COFs  28 . Further, in this embodiment, the multiple data COFs  28  directly connect to the corresponding signal transmitting circuit boards  26 . One signal transmitting circuit board  26  may connect to the data driving ICs on one data COF  28 , and may connect to the data driving ICs on the multiple data COFs  28 . The multiple gate COFs  27  are not directly connected to the signal transmitting circuit boards  26 , but receive the control signals from the T-CON control circuit  221  through the data COFs  28  and the signal transmitting circuit boards  26  in sequence. Specifically, for the multiple data COFs  28  arranged in sequence, the signal transmitting circuit boards  26  connecting to the data COFs  28  at two ends, have one part of the transmitting wires connecting to the data driving ICs on the data COFs  28  to transmit the control signal from the T-CON control circuit  221  to the data driving ICs, and have another part of the transmitting wires connect to the gate driving ICs on the gate COFs  27  through the empty areas on the data COFs  28  to transmit the control signal from the T-CON control circuit board  22  to the gate driving ICs. Then the data driving ICs and the gate driving ICs drive the LCD body  21  to display images according to the received control signals, i.e. the desired control signals of the gate driving ICs are transmitted sequentially through the signal transmitting circuit board  26  and the data COF  28  nearest to the gate COF  27  to the gate driving ICs. The desired control signals of the data driving ICs are directly transmitted from the signal transmitting circuit board  26 . 
     Further,  FIG. 3  only shows two signal transmitting circuit board  26 , but more signal transmitting circuit board  26  may be mounted according to the size of the LCD body  21  to connect to the data COFs  28  and the T-CON control circuit  221  while actual production. 
     In this embodiment, the LCD body  21  achieving to display images has following processes: When the LCD device  20  is turned on, the power circuit board  24  respectively supplies power to the T-CON control circuit  221 , the content providing apparatus  23  and the transformer circuit  242 . The video signal of the content providing apparatus  23  is transmitted to the converting circuit  222  through the first connector  223 . The converting circuit  222  converts the video signal of the content providing apparatus  23 , such as converting the signal in HDMI format into LVDS and sequence control signal, to retrieve the signal to be displayed that is identifiable by the LCD body  21 . The signal to be displayed is transmitted to the T-CON control circuit  221 . The T-CON control circuit  221  respectively generates the desired control signals for the gate driving ICs and the data driving ICs according to the signal to be displayed, and the corresponding control signals are transmitted to the gate driving ICs and the data driving ICs through the signal transmitting circuit boards  26  to control the gate driving ICs to output the scanning signal to the LCD body  21  and to control the data driving ICs to output data signals to the LCD body  21 . Then the LCD body  21  is driven to display images. More specifically, the desired control signals for the gate driving ICs generating by the T-CON control circuit  221  are transmitted to the gate driving ICs on the gate COFs  27  sequentially through the signal transmitting circuit board  26  and the data COFs  28 . 
     Therefore, by this embodiment, the LCD device  20  does not have the SOC main control circuit board but achieves the images broadcasting through connecting the external content providing apparatus. Thus, the internal structure of the LCD device  20  is optimized and the cost is reduced. In addition, the conventional content providing apparatus is usually supplied power by the external power (220V household power) so that needs to have corresponding power circuit mounted inside. In the present embodiment, the desired working voltage of the content providing apparatus  23  is directly supplied by the LCD device  20 . Comparing to the conventional way, the power module can be eliminated from the content providing apparatus  23  to be beneficial to simplify the structure of the content providing apparatus  24  and to lower the manufacturing cost of the content providing apparatus  23 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of still another embodiment of the structure of an LCD device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the components with the same referenced number have the same function. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the LCD device  20  further comprises an adapting board  28 . The first connector  223  on the T-CON control circuit board  22  connects to the adapting board  28  to connect to the content providing apparatus  23  through the adapting board  28 , i.e. the adapting board  28  connects between the first connector  223  and the content providing apparatus  23 . Thus, the signals between the content providing apparatus  23  and the LCD device  20  are transmitted through the adapting board  28 . 
     By the operation of the adapting board  28 , when different content providing apparatus  23  of different module numbers are used, only needs to change the adapting boards  28  adapting to the leads with the content providing apparatus  23 . Then the first connector  223  on the T-CON control circuit board  22 , i.e. the circuits on the T-CON control circuit board  22  do not need to be changed. Thus, the same T-CON control circuit board  22  can be adapted to different content providing apparatus  23  to broaden the utilization range. 
     Moreover, the T-CON control circuit board  22  is located at the middle part of the LCD device  20 , and the LCD device  20  is usually placed against the wall or is hung on the wall. If the content providing apparatus  23  is directly connected to the T-CON control circuit board  22 , it is not easy for the user to plug or unplug. Further, during the process to plug or unplug, the T-CON control circuit board  22  is easily pulled so that the other circuit boards connecting to the T-CON control circuit board  22  are also pulled to easily damage the circuits. In this embodiment, with the adapting board  28  connecting to the content providing apparatus  23 , the adapting board  28  can be mounted on a side of the LCD device  20 . The user only needs to plug in or unplug the content providing apparatus  23  from the connector of the adapting board  28  on the side so that it is very easy for user to operate. Furthermore, since the plugging or unplugging is operated to the adapting board  28 , the T-CON control circuit board  22  is kept from pulling to effectively protect the internal circuits. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , in still another embodiment of the LCD device on the present invention, one of the signal transmitting circuit boards  26  and the T-CON control circuit board  22  are assembled on the same circuit board. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the signal transmitting circuit  261  on one of the signal transmitting circuit boards, and the T-CON control circuit  221 , the converting circuit  222  and the circuit of the first connector  223  on the T-CON control circuit board  22  are all assembled on the same circuit board  32 . Comparing to the conventional way to form two parts of the circuits respectively on two circuit boards, the internal structure of the LCD device  20  is further simplified to reduce the space occupied by the circuit boards and to be beneficial to the development of the LCD device  20  to be lighter and thinner. Moreover, the signal transmitting circuits  261  are transmitting wires. 
     Certainly, in other embodiments, the multiple signal transmitting circuit boards  26  may be assembled with the T-CON control circuit board  22  on the same circuit board. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , in the embodiment of an LCD system in accordance with the present invention, the LCD system comprises an LCD device  61  and a content providing apparatus  62 . The content providing apparatus  62  is used to provide the desired video broadcasting content to the LCD device  61 . The LCD device  61  has the same structure with any one of the aforementioned embodiments of the LCD device. 
     Above are embodiments of the present invention, which does not limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structures or equivalent processes utilizing the specification and drawings of the present invention, or directly or indirectly apply to other related technical field should be covered by the protected scope of the invention.