Abstract:
A decoding system includes a plurality of decoders, a respective one of which is responsive to respective multibit input data, to decode the respective multibit input data and produce a respective output level corresponding to the respective multibit input data. The same multibit input data is simultaneously applied to the plurality of decoders, in response to a test mode signal. Different multibit input data is then simultaneously applied to the plurality of decoders, so that all of the output levels of the decoders can be tested. The output levels from the plurality of decoders that result from the same multibit input data that is supplied to the plurality of decoders is detected. The detected output levels from the plurality of decoders that result from the same multibit input data that is applied to the plurality of decoders is compared to expected output levels in order to test the decoders.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to decoders such as are used to drive the pixels of a display, and more particularly to testing of decoders. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Decoders are widely used in displays, such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). As is well known to those having skill in the art, in an LCD, a source driver for a thin film transistor (TFT) drives the thin film transistor with an output voltage that corresponds to data for displaying the brightness of the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) portions of a given pixel. In one example, 300 decoders may be present, each of which is responsive to one of 64 contrast levels, to produce a respective output level corresponding to the selected contrast level. The 64 contrast levels may be provided using six bits of multibit input data, to provide a selected voltage V 1 -V 64  corresponding to 64 output levels. 
     In view of the large numbers of decoders and the large numbers of output levels that each decoder can provide, testing of the decoders may be extremely time consuming. More specifically, in conventional test programs, the output of each decoder is cycled through each of the output levels. Thus, if 300 decoders are present, each of which provides an output voltage level V 1 -V 64  in response to six bits of input data, 65 cycles may be needed to test all of the output voltage levels. Each cycle may use at least 100 shift clocks and one latch clock. Accordingly, the time for testing the decoders can be unacceptably long. 
     FIGS.  1 ( a )- 1 ( f ) are conventional timing diagrams for conventional decoder testing. Input data for a plurality of channels is serially latched into a data register in response to a shift clock (SCLK) shown in FIG.  1 ( a ). All the data latched to the data register is simultaneously output in response to a latch clock (LCLK) shown in FIG.  1 ( b ). A conventional test for decoders may use 100 shift clocks since input data with respect to R, G and B are input at one time in response to one clock of the shift clock (SCLK). 
     FIG.  1 ( c ) shows input data which has the same value. Real input data is separate data; however, data having the same value are used for a test. FIGS.  1 ( d ) through  1 ( f ) show the outputs of output channels OUT 1  through OUT 300 , which are output at one time in response to the latch clock (LCLK). As shown, times of 64 contrast levels×100 shift clocks may be needed if such outputs are performed with respect to 64 contrast levels. 
     As a result, a testing time of at least the number of contrast levels times the period of shift clock times the number of outputs may be needed for testing the decoders. Since more than five types of tests may be performed in order to test a decoder in an integrated circuit, most of the test time for the integrated circuit may be consumed on testing the decoders. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved decoders and decoder testing methods. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide decoders and decoder testing methods that can reduce the amount of time that is used to test the decoders. 
     These and other objects are provided according to the present invention, by simultaneously applying the same multibit input data to a plurality of decoders in response to a test mode signal. It has been found, according to the invention, that since all of the decoders are being tested, the same data may be input to all of the decoders without inputting separate data through the decoder input terminals, as is the case during normal decoding operations. Accordingly, the time for testing the decoders can be reduced. 
     More specifically, according to the invention, a decoding system includes a plurality of decoders, a respective one of which is responsive to respective multibit input data, to decode the respective multibit input data and produce a respective output level corresponding to the respective multibit input data. Means and methods are provided for simultaneously applying the same multibit input data to the plurality of decoders, in response to a test mode signal. Different multibit input data is then simultaneously applied to the plurality of decoders, so that all of the output levels of the decoders can be tested. The output levels from the plurality of decoders that result from the same multibit input data that is supplied to the plurality of decoders is detected. The detected output levels from the plurality of decoders that result from the same multibit input data that is applied to the plurality of decoders is compared to expected output levels in order to test the decoders. The multibit input data preferably is N-bit input data, so that one of 2 N  combinations of the N-bits is simultaneously applied to the plurality of decoders in response to the test mode signal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of decoders comprises a plurality of red, green and blue signal decoders for a color display. The same first multibit input data is simultaneously applied to the plurality of red decoders, the same second multibit input data is simultaneously applied to the plurality of green decoders, and the same third multibit input data is simultaneously applied to the plurality of blue decoders, in response to the test mode signal. 
     The same multibit input data is preferably simultaneously applied to the plurality of decoders by providing a plurality of data registers that latch the same multibit input data therein and that simultaneously apply the latched multibit input data to the plurality of decoders. A controller produces a shift clock and a latch clock in response to the test mode signal. A shift register is responsive to the shift clock to generate a plurality of input control clocks. The plurality of data registers are responsive to the plurality of input control clocks, to latch the same multibit input data therein. The data registers are responsive to the latch clock, to simultaneously apply the latched multibit input data to the plurality of decoders. 
     Accordingly, improved decoders and testing apparatus and methods for decoders are provided that can reduce the testing time for the decoders. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS.  1 ( a ) through  1 ( f ) are conventional timing diagrams for testing decoders; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an output portion in an embodiment of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) source driver according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention; 
     FIGS.  4 ( a ) through  4 ( i ) are timing diagrams for testing a decoder shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another preferred embodiment of decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention; 
     FIGS.  6 ( a ) through  6 ( i ) are timing diagrams for testing a decoder shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing decoder testing methods according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an output portion of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) source driver according to the present invention. Decoders select contrast levels of the output portion of the 64 contrast levels, and 300 channel drivers select a voltage of a level corresponding to input data among voltages V 1  through V 64  corresponding to all the bit combinations of six bit input data. 
     Each of input data D 1  through D 300  is separate data corresponding respectively to 300 channels OUT 1  through OUT 300 . Three channels are used for R, G, and B display voltages of a pixel. In order to simultaneously output voltage for display on all the pixels in a TFT panel, input data with respect to the respective channels are serially latched to a data register in response to a shift clock before it is input to the respective decoders. 
     The data register input data with respect to three channels is shifted in response to a shift clock in order to display the degrees of brightness of R, G, and B for a pixel in an LCD panel. Therefore, at least 100 shift clocks may be needed for storing input data for 300 channels in the data register. All the input data latched to the data register are simultaneously output to the respective decoders in response to a latch clock. The respective decoders select voltages corresponding to the input data, from the voltages V 1  through V 64  of levels corresponding to all the bit combinations of the input data. The display voltages are output to the respective channels OUT 1  through OUT 300  through the respective current buffers. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention, and also includes a schematic block diagram of FIG.  2 . Referring to FIG. 3, decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention include a controlling portion  302 , a shift register  304 , a selecting portion  306 , a data register  308 , and an output portion  300 . The output portion  300  includes a decoding portion  310  and a buffering portion  312 . The decoding portion  310  includes a plurality of decoders as shown in FIG.  2 . The buffering portion  312  includes a plurality of buffers as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The decoding portion  310  is applied to 64 contrast levels and 300 channel source drivers having three input data DI 0 ˜DI 2  which are respectively formed of 6 bits and 300 output channels OUT 1  through OUT 300 , in order to select the contrast levels of R, G, and B with respect to 100 respective pixels of a panel. However, it is well known to those of the art that such numbers are variable in different decoding systems and methods. 
     The controlling portion  302  generates a shift clock (SCLK) in response to a second clock (CLK 2 ) after a start pulse DI 01  is externally input, generates a latch clock (LCLK) in response to a first clock (CLK 1 ) having a pulse when the second clock (CLK 2 ) has 100 pulses, and generates a latch enable signal (LEN) in response to a test control signal (TEST). 
     The shift register  304  serially outputs the shift clocks (SCLK) that is serially input from the controlling portion  302  one by one via a plurality of output lines. For example, when three input data are simultaneously latched in response to a clock output from the shift register  304 , the shift register  304  serially outputs first through 100th shift clocks through 100 output lines. The selecting portion  306  selectively outputs the shift clock (SCLK) and the latch clock (LCLK) that is input from the controlling portion  302 , in response to the test control signal (TEST). 
     The data register  308  inputs data DI 0  through DI 2  via input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  and serially latches the data to corresponding memories in response to the corresponding 100th shift clocks which are a plurality of input controlling clocks from the shift register  304 . Here, the data DI 0  through DI 2  is formed of six bits. The data register  308  stores the 100th input data in a corresponding memory in response to the 100th shift clock from the shift register  304  and simultaneously outputs all the serially latched data in response to the latch clock (LCLK) from the selecting portion  306 . When the shift clock (SCLK) is generated 100 times in response to the second clock (CLK 2 ), the latch clock (LCLK) is generated once in response to the first clock (CLK 1 ). 
     The decoding portion  310  inputs the data simultaneously output from the data register  308  and selects the voltages corresponding to the respective data from among the voltages V 1  through V 64  of 64 contrast levels corresponding to all the bit combinations of the six-bit data. The buffering portion  312  simultaneously stores the voltages selected from the decoding portion  310  and respectively outputs them as LCD displaying voltages through the 300 channels. It will be understood that the decoding portion  310  and the buffering portion  312  include a plurality of decoders and buffers corresponding to the number of the data simultaneously input to the decoding portion  310  or the output channels, as shown by the decoders and buffers of FIG.  2 . 
     The above-described operation of the data register  308  corresponds to the normal operation of the data register  308 , in response to the latch clock (LCLK) from the selecting portion  306 . Operation of the data register  308  when the decoding portion  310  is tested for a circuit verification in the LCD source driver for the TFT will now be described. 
     To verify the characteristics of the respective decoders of the decoding portion  310 , the data to be input to the respective decoders should be changed to 64 types so that the voltages V 1  through V 64  of the levels of all the cases can be output from the respective decoders. However, since the respective decoders are being tested, the same data may be input to all the decoders through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3 , without inputting separate data to the decoders as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     When the test control signal TEST is applied to the above-mentioned controlling portion  302  and the selecting portion  306 , the data register  308  receives the latch enable signal LEN and the shift clock SCLK respectively from the controlling portion  302  and the selecting portion  306 . The data register  308  latches data input once through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  to all the memories in response to the latch enable signal LEN. The data register  308  outputs the latched data to all the decoders of the decoding portion  310  in response to the shift clock SCLK whenever it receives a first, second, . . . , or 100th shift clock from the shift register  304 . Therefore, the data register  308  can output all the bit combinations of the data input through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  to all the decoders of the decoding portion  310  while 64 shift clocks SCLK are generated. Consequently, the data register  308  can reduce test time by latching input data simultaneously to all the memories and outputting the data to all the decoders of the decoding portion  310 . 
     FIGS.  4 ( a ) through  4 ( i ) are timing diagrams for testing the decoding portion shown in FIG.  3 . Assuming that a point of time in which a clock after 100 clocks is first generated from the shift clock SCLK shown in FIG.  4 ( a ) is a test mode, 64 clocks after the first 100 clocks are output from the shift register  304  and the selecting portion  306 . Thus, the output MUXO of the selecting portion  306  shown in FIG.  4 ( b ) is the latch clock LCLK during the first cycle and the shift clock SCLK during the next cycles. 
     The data DI shown in FIG.  4 ( c ) is serially latched in response to first 100 clocks and is simultaneously output. DI denotes the input data of the data register  308 . However, since the output MUXO of the selecting portion  306  is converted into the shift clock SCLK, the data DI shown in FIG.  4 ( c ) is continuously output as shown in FIGS.  4 ( c ) and  4 ( h ) in response to the next 64 clocks. The data DI is not serially latched but is directly output since the shift clock SCLK is used instead of the latch clock LCLK during the test operation. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another preferred embodiment of decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention, and also includes a schematic block diagram of FIG.  2 . Referring to FIG. 5, decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention include a controlling portion  502 , a shift register  506 , a data register  508 , and an output portion  500 . The output portion  500  includes a decoding portion  510  and a buffering portion  512 . The decoding portion  510  includes a plurality of decoders as shown in FIG.  2 . The buffering portion  512  includes a plurality of buffers as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The decoding portion  510  is applied to the 64 contrast levels and 300 channel source drivers like the decoding portion  310  shown in FIG.  3 . However, as described above, the numbers are variable in different decoding systems and methods. 
     The controlling portion  502  generates the shift clock SCLK in response to the second clock CLK 2  after external input of the start pulse DI 01 , and generates the latch clock LCLK in response to the first clock CLK 1  having a pulse when the second clock CLK 2  has 100 pulses. However, when the test control signal TEST is applied to the decoding portion test controller  504  of the controlling portion  502 , the controlling portion  502  generates the latch clock LCLK and the latch enable signal LEN maintaining a high level, i.e., an output enable level, in response to test control signal TEST. 
     The shift register  506  serially outputs the shift clocks SCLK that were serially input from the controlling portion  502  through a plurality of output lines. For example, if three input data are simultaneously latched in response to a clock output from the shift register  506 , 100 shift clocks may be used with respect to 300 output channels. Accordingly, the shift register  506  serially outputs first through 100th shift clock through 100 output lines. 
     The data register  508  continuously inputs six bit data DI 0  through DI 2  through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  and serially latches the input data to corresponding memories in response to the first through 100 shift clocks which are a plurality of input control clocks output from the shift register  506 . The data register  508  simultaneously outputs the serially latched data in response to the latch clock LCLK generated from the controlling portion  502  in response to the first clock CLK 1 . When the shift clock SCLK is generated 100 times in response to the second clock CLK 2 , the latch clock LCLK is generated once in response to the first clock CLK 1 . 
     The decoding portion  510  and the buffering portion  512  operate in a manner corresponding to the decoding portion  310  and the buffering portion  312  shown in FIG. 3, respectively. The decoding portion  510  inputs data that is simultaneously output from the data register  508  and selects voltages corresponding to the respective data among the voltages V 1  through V 64  of 64 levels corresponding to all the bit combinations of the six bit data. The buffering portion  512  temporarily stores the voltages selected from the decoding portion  510  and outputs them as panel displaying voltages through the 300 channels. 
     The above-described operation of the data register  508  corresponds to normal operation of the apparatus for providing panel displaying voltages, in response to the latch clock LCLK generated from the controlling portion  502  in response to the first clock CLK 1 . Operation of the data register  508  when the decoding portion  510  is tested for a circuit verification in the apparatus for providing panel displaying voltages will now be described. 
     As mentioned above, the controlling portion  502  generates the latch clock LCLK in response to the first clock CLK 1  during a normal operation. However, when the test control signal TEST is applied to the decoding portion test controller  504  of the controlling portion  502 , the controlling portion  502  generates the latch clock LCLK maintaining a high level and the latch enable signal LEN in response to the test control signal TEST. 
     The data register  508  latches the data which is input once through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  to all the memories in response to the latch enable signal LEN. The data register  508  outputs the data to all the decoders of the decoding portion  510  in response to the latch clock LCLK which is always a high level, whenever a first, second, . . . , or 100th shift clock among the plurality of input control clocks is received from the shift register  506 . Therefore, the data register  508  can output all the bit combinations of the data input through the input terminals IN 1  through IN 3  to all the decoders of the decoding portion  510  while the 64 shift clocks SCLK are generated. Consequently, the data register  508  can reduce the test time by latching data input simultaneously to all the memories and outputting the data to all the decoders of the decoding portion  510 . 
     FIGS.  6 ( a ) through  6 ( i ) are timing diagrams for testing the decoding portion shown in FIG.  5 . Assume that a point of time in which clocks after first 100 clocks are generated from the shift clock SCLK shown in FIG.  6 ( a ) is a test mode. Then, the latch clock LCLK shown in of FIG.  6 ( b ) maintains a high level, i.e., an output enable level during the test mode. 
     Data DI shown in FIG.  6 ( c ) is simultaneously output in response to the latch clock LCLK after it is serially latched in response to the first 100 clocks. DI representatively denotes the input data of the data register  508 . However, since the latch clock LCLK continuously maintains the high level, the data DI shown in FIG.  6 ( c ) is continuously output as shown in FIGS.  6 ( d ) through ( i ) in response to the next 64 clocks. Namely, since the latch clock LCLK maintains a high level during the test operation, the data DI is not serially latched but is directly output. 
     Therefore, the time needed for testing the decoding portion of the apparatus for supplying panel displaying voltages according to the present invention can be reduced to about 2/64 for a decoder for 64 contrast levels and to 2/256 for a decoder for 256 contrast levels compared with the test time in FIGS.  1 ( a ) through ( f ). 
     A decoder testing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.  7 . FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a decoder testing method according to the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined whether the decoders are in a testing mode (Step  702 ). If not, the decoders operate in a normal mode (Step  712 ). The decoders for selecting contrast levels used in the LCD source driver respectively select one among 2 N  outputs, i.e., the voltages of the levels corresponding to the respective input data, with respect to the respective N-bit data for displaying the degrees of the brightness of colors with respect to the respective pixels of the panel. During the normal mode, the respective N bit data is serially latched to the memories corresponding to the respective decoders and is simultaneously output to the decoders. Accordingly, the outputs of the respective decoders are simultaneously obtained as panel displaying voltages. 
     However, when the decoders are determined to be in the test mode in step  702 , N bit input data corresponding to one among all the 2 N  bit combinations of the N bit data is selected as test data and is simultaneously latched to all the memories corresponding to the respective decoders (Step  704 ). After Step  704 , the latched test data is output to all the decoders and the data corresponding to the test data is obtained from the plurality of decoders (Step  706 ). After Step  706 , predetermined comparison tests are performed with respect to the data obtained from the plurality of decoders (Step  708 ). Also, it is determined whether tests were performed with respect to all the test data (Step  710 ). If not, the test processes are repeatedly performed. 
     According to a decoder testing method of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, during the test mode, the N bit data are not serially input and latched to the memories corresponding to the plurality of decoders. Also, the clocks for outputting the test data to all the decoders in the Step  706  have the same timing as that of the clocks used for latching the test data to the memories in the Step  704  or to maintain an output enable level during the test mode of the decoders. 
     Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time for serially latching the N bit data compared with a normal mode. For example, the time for obtaining 2 N  outputs corresponding to the test data formed of 2 N  clock time bit combinations from the M decoders is generally L+2 N  clock time. Here, L is the value obtained by dividing the number of output channels connected to the M decoders by 3, since the N bit data corresponding to the R, G, and B are simultaneously latched. Accordingly, decoder test controlling apparatus and methods according to the present invention can reduce the time for testing the decoders by controlling the output of the data register for latching the data to be decoded in the front ends of the decoders for selecting contrast levels. 
     In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.