Patent Publication Number: US-8981662-B1

Title: Backlight driving circuit and liquid crystal display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to liquid crystal display technology, and more particularly to a backlight driving circuit and a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     With the technology revolution, backlight technology of LCDs has been developed. Typical LCDs adopt cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) as the backlight sources. However, as the CCFL backlight is characterized by attributes including low color reduction ability, low lighting efficiency, high discharging voltage, bad discharging characteristics in low temperature, and also, the CCFL needs a long time to achieve a stable gray scale, LED backlight source is a newly developed technology. 
     Generally, backlight driving circuits are required to provide a driving voltage for LED strings.  FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one conventional backlight driving circuit. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the backlight driving circuit includes a boost circuit  110 , a LED string  120  and a constant-current driving chip  130 . 
     The boost circuit  110  is controlled by the constant-current driving chip  130  to boost the input voltage Vin so as to drive the LED string  120 . The input voltage Vin is concurrently input to the constant-current driving chip  130  such that the constant-current driving chip  130  can normally operate. The constant-current driving chip  130  receives external pulse width modulation (PWM) optical signals to control the current passing through the LED string  120  such that the LED string  120  can normally operate. 
     Specifically, the constant-current driving chip  130  includes a control module  131  and an operational amplifier  132 . The control module  131  receives enable signals ENA such that the constant-current driving chip  130  begins its operation. The control module  131  outputs the driving signals to the MOS transistor Q 1  of the boost circuit  110 . When the MOS transistor Q 1  is turn on, the inductor L stores energy. When the MOS transistor Q 1  is turn off, the inductor L releases energy. In this way, the LED string  120  is provided with the voltage for emitting lights. 
     The positive input end of the operational amplifier  132  receives a constant voltage V 1 . The negative input end of the operational amplifier  132  feedbacks the voltage at the two ends of the resistor RT. The output end of the operational amplifier  132  couples with the gate of the MOS transistor Q 2 . The operational amplifier  132  compares the constant voltage V 1  with the voltage at two ends of the resistor RT and then outputs control signals to adjust the voltage difference between the gate and the source of the MOS transistor Q 2 . As such, the current passing through the LED string  120  is controlled. The duty-cycle ratio of the current passing through the LED string  120  is determined by the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals. When the PWM optical signals are at high level, the operational amplifier  132  is capable of controlling the MOS transistor Q 2 . When the PWM optical signals are at low level, the operational amplifier  132  is unable to control the MOS transistor Q 2 . The MOS transistor Q 2  is in an off state and there is no current passing through the LED string  120 . 
     However, parasitic capacitance exists between the gate and the source of the MOS transistor Q 2 . When the external voltage is applied to the gate and the source of the MOS transistor Q 2 , the parasitic capacitance C is firstly charged. After the parasitic capacitance C is fully charged, the MOS transistor Q 2  is turn on if the external voltage still exists. When the frequency of the PWM optical signals is fixed, the duration of the adjusting signals outputted from the operational amplifier  132  to the MOS transistor Q 2  is short. In this way, the charging time of the parasitic capacitance C is short, which may results in that the MOS transistor Q 2  cannot be fully turn on and the current passing through the LED string  120  cannot reach a predetermined level. It is to be noted that the predetermined level relates to the current capable of driving the LED string  120  to emit lights normally. Especially, if the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is too small, the MOS transistor Q 2  may not be in be turn on in time. As such, the constant-current driving chip  130  may erroneously determine that the LED string  120  is in the open-circuit state, which affects normal operations of the backlight driving circuit. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the invention is to provide a backlight driving circuit and the LCD with the same that can normally operate when the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is small. 
     In one aspect, a backlight driving circuit, comprising: a boost circuit, a constant-current driving chip, a LED string coupled with the boost circuit, wherein the backlight driving circuit further comprises a detecting module; and wherein the boost circuit boosts an input voltage and then provides the boosted voltage to the LED string; the detecting module receives and calculates external PWM optical signals to obtain a duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals, and compares the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals with a predetermined threshold to determine if control signals have to be generated for the constant-current driving chip such that the constant-current driving chip controls a current passing through the LED string. 
     In another aspect, a liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal panel and a LED backlight source arranged opposite to the liquid crystal panel, the LED backlight source provides a light source to the liquid crystal panel, the LED backlight source comprises a backlight driving circuit, and wherein the backlight driving circuit comprises a boost circuit, a constant-current driving chip, a LED string coupled with the boost circuit, wherein the backlight driving circuit further comprises a detecting module; and wherein the boost circuit boosts an input voltage and then provides the boosted voltage to the LED string; the detecting module receives and calculates external PWM optical signals to obtain a duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals, and compares the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals with a predetermined threshold to determine if control signals have to be generated for the constant-current driving chip such that the constant-current driving chip controls a current passing through the LED string. 
     Wherein when the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the detecting module cuts off the external PWM optical signals and generates the PWM optical signals with the duty-cycle ratio equaling to the predetermined threshold, and detecting module provides the PWM optical signals to the constant-current driving chip. 
     Wherein when the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the detecting module cuts off the external PWM optical signals and outputs low level signals to an enable signals input end of the constant-current driving chip. 
     Wherein the LED string comprises a plurality of LEDs serially connected, a second MOS transistor, and a resistor; and wherein a drain of the second MOS transistor couples with the negative ends of the serially connected LEDs, a source of the second MOS transistor couples with one end of the resistor, and the other end of the resistor is electrically grounded, and a gate of the second MOS transistor couples with the constant-current driving chip. 
     Wherein the constant-current driving chip comprises a control module and an operational amplifier, the control module comprises an enable signal input end; and wherein the control module receives the input voltage and enable signals inputted from the enable signal input end, and the control module respectively couples with the boost circuit and the negative ends of the LEDs, an positive end of the operational amplifier receives a constant voltage, and a negative end of the operational amplifier couples between the source of the source of the second MOS transistor and one end of the resistor, and an output end of the operational amplifier couples with the gate of the second MOS transistor. 
     Wherein one end of the detecting module receives the external PWM optical signals, and the other end of the detecting module couples with the output end of the operational amplifier, or wherein one end of the detecting module receives the external PWM optical signals, and the detecting module respectively couples with an output end of the operational amplifier and the enable signal input end. 
     The backlight driving circuit and the LCD are capable of generating PWM optical signals with duty-cycle ratio equaling to the predetermined threshold or generating low level signals for the constant-current driving chip when the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is small. In this way, the LED string is controlled to emit lights normally or the constant-current driving chip is controlled to stop its operation. As such, the backlight driving circuit can operate normally. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one conventional backlight driving circuit. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the backlight driving circuit in accordance with a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the backlight driving circuit in accordance with a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows the liquid crystal display in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. In the following description, in order to avoid the known structure and/or function unnecessary detailed description of the concept of the invention result in confusion, well-known structures may be omitted and/or functions described in unnecessary detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the backlight driving circuit in accordance with a first embodiment. The backlight driving circuit includes a boost circuit  210 , a constant-current driving chip  220 , a detecting module  230 , and a LED string  240  coupled with the boost circuit  210 . 
     The boost circuit  210  boosts the input voltage Vin when being controlled by the constant-current driving chip  220  so as to output the voltage capable of driving the LED string  240  to emit lights normally. In addition, the input voltage Vin is also provided to the constant-current driving chip  220  to act as the operation voltage. The detecting module  230  receives and calculates the external PWM optical signals to obtain a duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals. The detecting module  230  then compares the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals with a predetermined threshold to determine if the control signals have to be generated for the constant-current driving chip  220  such that the constant-current driving chip  220  is capable of controlling the current passing through the LED string  240 . 
     Specifically, the boost circuit  210  includes an inductor L, a rectifier diode D, a capacitor C 1 , and a first MOS transistor Q 1 . One end of the inductor L receives the input voltage Vin, and the other end of the inductor L couples with the positive end of the rectifier diode D. The negative end of the rectifier diode D couples with the positive end of the LED string  240 . One end of the capacitor C 1  couples between the negative end of the rectifier diode D and the positive end of the LED string  240 . The drain of the first MOS transistor Q 1  couples between the other end of the inductor L and the rectifier diode D. The source of the first MOS transistor Q 1  is electrically grounded. The gate of the first MOS transistor Q 1  couples with the constant-current driving chip  220 . 
     The LED string  240  includes a plurality of LEDs serially connected, a second MOS transistor Q 2 , and a resistor RT. The drain of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with the negative ends of the serially connected LEDs. The source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with one end of the resistor RT, and the other end of the resistor RT is electrically grounded. The gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with the constant-current driving chip  220 . 
     The constant-current driving chip  220  includes a control module  222  and an operational amplifier  223 . The control module  222  receives the input voltage Vin. In addition, the control module  222  configures the enable signals ENA, which are to be inputted to an enable signal input end  221 , to drive the constant-current driving chip  220  to operate. The enable signals ENA is at high level. The control module  222  respectively couples with the gate of the first MOS transistor Q 1  of the boost circuit  210  and the negative ends of the serially connected LEDs of the LED string  240  so as to provide the driving signals with a specific on/off frequency to the gate of the first MOS transistor Q 1 . In this way, the operations of the boost circuit  210  is controlled. The positive end of the operational amplifier  223  receives a constant voltage V 1 . The negative end of the operational amplifier  223  feedbacks the voltage at two ends of the resistor RT. The output end of the operational amplifier  223  couples with the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2 . After comparing the constant voltage V 1  with the voltage at two ends of the resistor RT, the operational amplifier  223  outputs the adjusting signals to control the voltage difference between the gate and the source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  so as to determine the current passing through the LED string  240 . 
     It is to be noted that the enable signals ENA inputted to the enable signal input end  221  may be at high level or at low level. When the enable signals ENA is at high level, the constant-current driving chip  220  is controlled to operate. When the enable signals ENA is at low level, the constant-current driving chip  220  stops its operation. 
     One end of the detecting module  230  receives the external PWM optical signals, and the other end of the detecting module  230  couples with the output end of the operational amplifier  223 . In one embodiment, the detecting module  230  is a single chip microcomputer, such as a micro control unit (MCU). Specifically, the detecting module  230  calculates the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals, and compares the duty-cycle ratio with the predetermined threshold. When the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the detecting module  230  cuts off the PWM optical signals. The detecting module  230  outputs the PWM optical signals to the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2  to ensure that the second MOS transistor Q 2  is in the fully turn-on state. The duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals equals to the predetermined threshold. As such, the current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level, which means that the LED string  240  is capable of emitting lights normally. When the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is not smaller than the predetermined threshold, the external PWM optical signals have not to be processed by the detecting module  230 . The unprocessed PWM optical signals are outputted to the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2  such that the second MOS transistor Q 2  is in the turn-on state. The current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level such that the LED string  240  emits lights normally. 
     Thus, by adding the detecting module  230 , the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals, which is applied to the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2 , is maintained to be above the predetermined threshold. If the duration of the adjusting signals, which are outputted from the operational amplifier  223  to the second MOS transistor Q 2 , is long enough, the charging time of the parasitic capacitance C between the gate and the source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  is also long enough. As such, the parasitic capacitance C is fully charged and the second MOS transistor Q 2  is in the fully turn-on state. The current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level, and the LED string  240  can emit lights normally. Even during a booting procedure, if the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is too small, the detecting module  230  still can turn on the second MOS transistor Q 2 , and the LED string  240  can emit lights normally. Thus, the constant-current driving chip  220  would not erroneously determine that the LED string  240  is in the open-circuit state, and thus the backlight driving circuit can operate normally. 
     It is to be noted that the predetermined threshold configured within the detecting module  230  ensures that the parasitic capacitance C between the gate and the source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  can be fully charged. In addition, the second MOS transistor Q 2  can be fully turn on, and the current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level. In this way, the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals can satisfy the minimum requirement of the backlight driving circuit operation. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the backlight driving circuit in accordance with a second embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the backlight driving circuit includes the boost circuit  210 , the constant-current driving chip  220 , the detecting module  230 , and the LED string  240  coupling with the boost circuit  210 . 
     The boost circuit  210  boosts the input voltage Vin when being controlled by the constant-current driving chip  220 , and outputs the voltage capable of driving the LED string  240  to emit lights normally. In addition, the input voltage Vin is also provided to the constant-current driving chip  220  to act as the operation voltage of the constant-current driving chip  220 . The detecting module  230  receives the external PWM optical signals and calculates the PWM optical signals to obtain the duty-cycle ratio. The detecting module  230  then compares the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals and the predetermined threshold to determine whether the control signals have to be generated for the constant-current driving chip  220  such that the constant-current driving chip  220  is capable of controlling the current passing through the LED string  240 . 
     Specifically, the boost circuit  210  includes an inductor L, a rectifier diode D, a capacitor C 1 , and a first MOS transistor Q 1 . One end of the inductor L receives the input voltage Vin, and the other end of the inductor L couples with the positive end of the rectifier diode D. The negative end of the rectifier diode D couples with the positive end of the LED string  240 . One end of the capacitor C 1  couples between the negative end of the rectifier diode D and the positive end of the LED string  240 . The drain of the first MOS transistor Q 1  couples between the other end of the inductor L and the rectifier diode D. The source of the First MOS transistor Q 1  is electrically grounded. The gate of the First MOS transistor Q 1  couples with the constant-current driving chip  220 . 
     The LED string  240  includes a plurality of LEDs serially connected, a second MOS transistor Q 2 , and a resistor RT. The drain of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with the negative ends of the serially connected LEDs. The source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with one end of the resistor RT, and the other end of the resistor RT is electrically grounded. The gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2  couples with the constant-current driving chip  220 . 
     The constant-current driving chip  220  includes a control module  222  and an operational amplifier  223 . The control module  222  receives the input voltage Vin. In addition, the control module  222  configures the enable signals ENA, which are to be inputted to an enable signal input end  221 , to drive the constant-current driving chip  220  to operate. The enable signals ENA is at high level. The control module  222  respectively couples with the gate of the First MOS transistor Q 1  of the boost circuit  210  and the negative ends of the serially connected LEDs of the LED string  240  so as to provide the driving signals with a specific on/off frequency to the gate of the first MOS transistor Q 1 . In this way, the operations of the boost circuit  210  is controlled. The positive end of the operational amplifier  223  is for receiving a constant voltage V 1 . The negative end of the operational amplifier  223  feedbacks the voltage at two ends of the resistor RT. The output end of the operational amplifier  223  couples with the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2 . After comparing the constant voltage V 1  with the voltage at the two ends of the resistor RT, the operational amplifier  223  outputs the adjusting signals to control the voltage difference between the gate and the source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  so as to determine the current passing through the LED string  240 . 
     It is to be noted that the enable signals ENA inputted to the enable signal input end  221  may be at high level or at low level. When the enable signals ENA is at high level, the constant-current driving chip  220  is controlled to operate. When the enable signals ENA is at low level, the constant-current driving chip  220  stops its operation. 
     One end of the detecting module  230  receives the PWM optical signals, and the other end of the detecting module  230  couples with the output end of the operational amplifier  223 . In one embodiment, the detecting module  230  is a single chip microcomputer, such as a micro control unit (MCU). Specifically, the detecting module  230  calculates the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals, and compares the duty-cycle ratio with the predetermined threshold. When the duty-cycle ratio of the external PWM optical signals is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the detecting module  230  cuts off the external PWM optical signals. The detecting module  230  outputs the low level signals to the enable signal input end  221  of the constant-current driving chip  220  and the low level signals operate as the enable signals of the constant-current driving chip  220  to stop the operations of the constant-current driving chip  220 . That is, the current passing through the LED string  240  is controlled to be zero by the constant-current driving chip  220 . As such, the backlight driving circuit stops its operations, and the LED string  240  is prevented from twinkling due to a smaller duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals. When the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is not smaller than the predetermined threshold, the PWM optical signals have not to be processed by the detecting module  230 . The unprocessed PWM optical signals are outputted to the gate of the second MOS transistor Q 2  such that the second MOS transistor Q 2  can be in the fully turn-on state. In this way, the current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level and the LED string  240  emits lights normally. 
     Therefore, in the butting procedure, if the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals is too small, the detecting module  230  turns off the constant-current driving chip  220 , and the constant-current driving chip  220  would not erroneously determine that the LED string  240  is in the open-circuit state. 
     It is to be noted that the predetermined threshold configured within the detecting module  230  ensures that the parasitic capacitance C between the gate and the source of the second MOS transistor Q 2  can be fully charged. In addition, the second MOS transistor Q 2  is fully turn on, and the current passing through the LED string  240  can reach the predetermined level. In this way, the duty-cycle ratio of the PWM optical signals can satisfy the minimum requirement of the backlight driving circuit operation. 
     In addition, any one of the backlight driving circuit disclosed in the above embodiments is incorporated in one LCD as shown in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, the LCD includes a liquid crystal panel  300  and a LED backlight source  400  arranged opposite to the liquid crystal panel  300 . The LED backlight source  400  includes the above backlight driving circuit for providing the driving voltage, which controls the LED string to emit lights normally. In this way, the LED backlight source  400  provides light sources to the liquid crystal panel  300  such that the liquid crystal panel  300  can display images. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.