The present invention relates to a layout configuration, and more particularly to a layout configuration of a flat display device. Recently, due to the advantages of thin profile, light weight, low driving voltage and low power consumption, various flat display devices are increasingly developed. The commonly used flat display devices include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, electroluminescent display (ELD) devices, and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) devices.
Referring to
The LCD panel 11 comprises a plurality of pixel regions (not shown) arranged in a matrix-type configuration. Each pixel region comprises a capacitor structure and a thin film transistor, and is defined by a crossing of a scan line and a data line. The operation principles of the pixel regions are well known in the art and need not intended to be described redundantly herein.
During operation, the video image data received from the interface circuit 12 is processed by the control circuit 13 to form a signal Sc, and the pixel region of the LCD panel 11 is driven by the signal Sd from the driving circuit 14 connected to the control circuit 13. Via each scan line, all the thin film transistors of the same row are controlled in either a switching-on or switching-off state. Meanwhile, the data lines transmit analog video signals to the switched-on cells electrically connected thereto.
The power unit 15 comprises an AC/DC converter 151 for converting a commercial AC power 10 into a DC voltage. By using a DC/DC converter 152, this DC voltage is converted into desired DC level for the LCD panel 11, the interface circuit 12, the control circuit 13 and the driving circuit 14.
As known, the light source for most flat panel displays is a cold cathode fluorescent backlight. The backlight unit 16 of this LCD device 1 should run on a high AC voltage provided by the inverter 17. The inverter 17 converts the supplied DC power from the AC/DC converter 151 into AC power and steps its voltage up for start-up. Once the backlight unit 16 is started, the inverter 17 drops the voltage down to its operating level. Meanwhile, the backlight unit 16 provides light to the LCD panel 11.
Conventionally, the LCD panel 11 is disposed on the front side of the backlight unit 16. Owing to the voltage differential among the electronic components, the interface circuit 12, the control circuit 13 and the driving circuit 14, the power unit 15, and the inverter 17 are mounted on three separate printed circuit boards (PCBs), so as to ensure electric safety and avoid the interference effects. These PCBs are arranged on the rear side of the backlight unit 16. Please refer to
As shown in
The conventional layout configuration of
The present invention provides a layout configuration of a flat display device to reduce complexity and cost for mounting electronic components of the flat display device. In addition, the reduction of interference and the electric safety are also considered in the present invention.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a layout configuration of a flat display device. The flat display device receives an AC power and comprises a display panel and a backlight unit. The layout configuration of the flat display device comprises: a video unit controlling the display panel and having an image data interface circuit, an image data processing and controlling unit, and an image data driving circuit; a backlight driving unit driving the backlight unit for emitting light to the display panel; and a power unit connecting to the AC power and having an AC/DC converter and a DC/DC converter for providing power to the video unit and the backlight driving unit; wherein the video unit, the power unit and the backlight driving unit are mounted on a one-layer printed circuit board and electrically connected to each other via electrical traces of the one-layer printed circuit board.
In an embodiment, the one-layer printed circuit board comprises a first layout region, a second layout region, a third layout region, and a fourth layout region. The video unit, the power unit and the backlight driving unit are respectively mounted on the first layout region, the second layout region and the third layout region, and the electrical traces are electrically connected to each other and gathered at the fourth layout region of the one-layer printed circuit board.
In an embodiment, the one-layer printed circuit board further comprises plural clearance regions, the first and second layout regions and the second and third layout regions respectively comprise one of the plural clearance regions disposed therebetween.
In an embodiment, each of the clearance regions comprises at least a gap piercing through the one-layer printed circuit board.
In an embodiment, layout configuration further comprising an audio unit having an audio controller and an audio amplifier, the audio unit is mounted on the first layout region of the one-layer printed circuit board and electronically connected to the video unit and the power unit via the electrical traces gathered at the fourth layout region.
In an embodiment, an audio data is received by the audio controller controlled by the image data processing and controlling unit of the video unit, and the audio data is amplified by the audio amplifier and output to a speaker connected to the audio amplifier.
In an embodiment, the AC power is converted into a DC voltage for the backlight driving unit and the audio unit, the DC voltage is further converted into desired operating DC levels by the DC/DC converter for the video unit.
In an embodiment, the image data interface circuit is electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit for receiving a video image data, the video image data is modulated into a video image signal by the image data processing and controlling unit, and the image data driving circuit is electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit to generate a video image driving signal in response to the video image signal, so as to control a plurality of pixel regions of the display panel.
In an embodiment, the backlight driving unit is an inverter electronically connected to the AC/DC converter of the power unit and comprises an inverter controller and a switch electrically connected to each other. The inverter controller is controlled by the image data processing and controlling unit, and the switch is connected to the backlight unit for starting the backlight unit.
In an embodiment, the backlight driving unit is a LED driver connected to the AC/DC converter of the power unit and controlled by the image data processing and controlling unit of the video unit for starting the backlight unit.
In an embodiment, the layout configuration further comprises a keypad circuit electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit and mounted on the first layout region of the one-layer printed circuit board.
In an embodiment, the one-layer printed circuit board further comprises an extending portion substantially perpendicular to the one-layer printed circuit board, the extending portion mounted a keypad circuit thereon, and the keypad circuit is electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit.
In an embodiment, a keypad circuit electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit is mounted on a keypad board.
In an embodiment, the image data processing and controlling unit of the video unit further comprises an image data processing circuit and a controller.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a layout configuration of a flat display device. The flat display device receives an AC power and comprises a display panel and a backlight unit. The layout configuration comprises an image data interface circuit for receiving a video image data; an image data processing and controlling unit electrically connected to the image data interface circuit for modulating the video image data from the video image data interface circuit to a video image signal; an image data driving circuit electrically connected to the image data processing and controlling unit for generating a video image driving signal in response to the video image signal and output the video image driving signal to the display panel; an AC/DC converter for converting the AC power into a DC voltage; a DC/DC converter for converting the DC voltage into desired operating DC levels for the image data interface circuit, the image data processing and controlling unit and the image data driving circuit; and an backlight driving unit electrically connected to the AC/DC converter for converting the DC voltage into a high AC voltage so as to start the backlight unit. The electronic components of the image data interface circuit, the image data processing and controlling unit, the image data driving circuit, the AC/DC converter, the DC/DC converter and the backlight driving unit are mounted on a one-layer printed circuit board and electrically connected to each other via electrical traces of the one-layer printed circuit board.
The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
Referring to
The video unit 21 comprises an image data interface circuit 211, an image data processing and controlling unit 212 and an image data driving circuit 213 electrically connected to each other. In some embodiment, the image data processing and controlling unit 212 is a chip with an image data processing circuit 2121 and a controller 2122 electrically connected to each other, wherein the controller 2122 is a microcontroller, but not limited thereto. The image data processing and controlling unit 212 is electrically connected to the keypad circuit 25 through the controller 2122 to receive the messages from user. The controller 2122 of the image data processing and controlling unit 212 controls not only the image data processing circuit 2121, but also the audio unit 22 and the backlight driving unit 24. The video image data received from the image data interface circuit 211 is modulated into a video image signal S1 by the image data processing circuit 2121 of the image data processing and controlling unit 212. In response to the video image signal S1, the image data driving circuit 213 output a video image driving signal S2 to control and drive the pixel region (not shown) of the display panel. In this embodiment, the display panel is a LCD panel 26 with plural pixel regions (not shown), but not limited thereto.
To provide light for the LCD panel 26, a backlight driving unit 24 is used to drive the backlight unit 27, so as to emit light to the LCD panel 26. In this embodiment, the backlight driving unit 24 is an inverter and has an inverter controller 241 and a switch 242 electrically connected to each other. The inverter controller 241 is manipulated by the controller 2122 of the image data processing and controlling unit 212, and the on time of the switch 242 is controlled by the inverter controller 241. Thus the output voltage of the switch 242 can be adjusted, thereby start the backlight unit 27 and regulate the brightness variation of the backlight unit 27 according to the output voltage of the switch 242. Of course, in some embodiments, the backlight driving unit 24 can be a LED driver instead of the inverter, but not limited thereto.
Please refer to
In addition, to space the first layout region 31 and the second layout region 32, a clearance region 35 is disposed between the first and second layout regions 31 and 32. Similarly, a clearance region 36 is disposed between the second layout region 32 and the third layout region 33. In some embodiments, the clearance region 35 further comprises at least a gap 351 piercing through the one-layer printed circuit board 3, and the clearance region 36 comprises at least a gap 361 piercing through the one-layer printed circuit board 3 as well. Since gaps 351 and 361 pierce through the one-layer printed circuit board 3, the isolation ability can be increased owing to the air in the gaps 351 and 361. Therefore, the first, second and third layout regions 31-33 can be isolated by the clearance regions 35 and 36 or further in cooperation with the gaps 351 and 361, so as to ensure electric safety of the LCD device 2 and avoid the damage of the one-layer printed circuit board 3. It is to be understood that the number of the gaps 351 and 361 are not limited; in other words, the number of the gaps 351 and 361 can be adjusted depending on safety demand.
The electronic components of the video unit 21, the audio unit 22 and the keypad circuit 25 mounted on the first layout region 31, the power unit 23 mounted on the second layout region 32, and the backlight driving unit 24 mounted on the third layout region 33 of the one-layer printed circuit board 3 are electrically connected to each other through the electrical traces 37 distributed on one-side of the one-layer printed circuit board 3. To avoid interference among the video unit 21, the audio unit 22 and keypad circuit 25, the power unit 23, and the backlight driving unit 24 with apparent voltage differential, the electrical traces 37 are gathered and electrically connected at the fourth layout region 34 of the one-layer printed circuit board 3. Since the electrical traces 37 are gathered in the fourth layout region 34, the drawbacks of interference effects caused by the conventional layout with wire L2 striding across some electronic components can be prevented. Besides, since the electronic traces 37 do not pass through the clearance regions 35 and 36, the electric safety can be maintained. Of course, in some embodiments of the present invention, for further lowering the interference effects, the ground pads (not shown) can be disposed between the electrical traces 37 at the fourth layout area 34.
Alternatively, in the third preferred embodiment as shown in
According to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that the keypad circuit 25 of the first embodiment shown in
Since the video unit 21, the audio unit 22, the power unit 23, the backlight driving unit 24/24′, and the keypad circuit 25 are arranged on a one-layer printed circuit board 3 with one-layer substrate, the electronic components mounted thereon will be electrically connected to each other via electrical traces 37. In addition, since the electronic components are mounted on the single one-layer printed circuit board 3 by passing a solder machine once, the procedures for connecting PCBs 1-3 by linking the connecters through wires can be omitted. Thus the fabricating process is very convenient. Furthermore, though the connectors 313, 314 and wires W3 and W4 for the audio input and output are added, the wires L1, L2 and the connectors C1, C3, C5 and C6 are exempted from the one-layer printed circuit board 3, when comparing with the layout configuration of
Moreover, for maintaining the electric safety and avoiding the interference effects among the electronic components, the interface circuit 12, the control circuit 13 and the driving circuit 14, the power unit 15, and the inverter 17 have to be mounted on individual printed circuit boards PCB1-PCB3 in the convention LCD device 1. While in the present invention, by mounting the video unit 21, the audio unit 22 on the first layout region 31, mounting the power unit 23 on the second layout region 32, mounting the backlight driving unit 24/24′ on the third layout region 33 of the one-layer printed circuit board 3, and isolating these regions with clearance regions 35 and 36, the electric safety can be maintained even all the electronic components are mounted on single one-layer printed circuit board 3. In addition, all the electronic components are electrically connected to each other at the fourth layout region 34 of the one-layer printed circuit board 3 via electric traces 37; hence the electric traces 37 will not pass through the clearance regions 35 and 36 of the one-layer printed circuit board 3. In other words, not only the electric safety can be kept, the interference effects caused by the wire striding across the electronic component can also be overcome.
The above embodiments are illustrated by referring to a layout configuration of a LCD device. Nevertheless, the present invention can be applied to other flat display devices such as electroluminescent display (ELD) devices and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) devices.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/067,693, filed on Mar. 1, 2005, and entitled “LAYOUT CONFIGURATION OF FLAT DISPLAY DEVICE”. The entire disclosures of the above applications are all incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11067693 | Mar 2005 | US |
Child | 11979982 | Nov 2007 | US |