1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving device and a driving method used in a display device, and more particularly, to a driving device and a driving method capable of storing and outputting electric charges according to voltage variations of output buffers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Comparing with a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device is provided with advantages of lighter weight, less power consumption and less radiation contamination, and has been widely applied to various information technology (IT) products, such as computer systems, mobile phones, notebooks, digital cameras and personal digital assistants (PDAs). An operating principle of the LCD device is based on a fact that different twisted states of liquid crystals result in different polarizations and refractions on light passing through the liquid crystals. Thus, the different twisted states of the liquid crystals can be used to control an amount of the light emitted from the LCD device, so as to produce light outputs at various brightnesses, and diverse gray levels of red, green and blue light.
With growing environmental consciousness, industries have devoted efforts to develop products with low power consumption, where most products produced by IT industries are electronic devices consuming electricity. Taking the LCD device as an example, even though a standby LCD device consumes only a few watts of electric power, an operating LCD device may consume tens to hundreds of watts of electric power according to a size of the operating LCD device. In general, a source driver of an LCD device according to the prior art comprises a charging sharing unit, for reusing electric charges, to reduce power consumption.
Please refer to
In detail, about operation of the source driver 10, please refer to
On the other hand, the source driver 10 needs to maintain a voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M within a specific range such that the first output buffer 100 and the second output buffer 102 can output the source driving signals with the same amplitude. Therefore, when the first output buffer 100 needs to reduce the first source driving signal SD_sig1 and the second output buffer 102 does not need to increase the second source driving signal SD_sig2, the second output buffer 102 can only export the electric charges released by the first output buffer 100 to the ground, and the electricity is wasted. For example, please refer to
As can be seen from the above, the source driver 10 can reuse the electric charges only when the first source driving signal SD_sig1 is increased and the second source driving signal SD_sig2 is decreased. Therefore, the situation that the charge sharing can be applied is limited, and the source driver 10 can not reuse the electric charges and waste the electricity in most situations.
A driving device and a driving method utilized in a display device are disclosed, which can improve efficiency of charging sharing and thus save power consumption.
A driving device for a display device is disclosed. The driving device comprises a first output buffer, for generating a first source driving signal at a first output end; a second output buffer, for generating a second source driving signal at a second output end; and an electric charge storage unit, comprising a voltage sensing end coupled to the first output buffer and the second output buffer, for receiving and storing electric charges released by the first output buffer via the voltage sensing end when a level of the first source driving signal decreases, and for outputting the electric charges to the second output buffer via the voltage sensing end when a level of the second source driving signal increases.
A driving method for a display device is disclosed. The driving method comprises receiving and storing electric charges released by a first output buffer via a voltage sensing end, when a level of a first source driving signal decreases; and outputting the electric charges to a second output buffer via the voltage sensing end, when a level of a second source driving signal increases; wherein the first output buffer is used for generating the first source driving signal, and the second output buffer is used for generating the second source driving signal.
A driving device for a display device is disclosed. The driving device comprises a first output buffer, for generating a first source driving signal at a first output end; a second output buffer, for generating a second source driving signal at a second output end; and an electric charge storage unit. The electric charge storage unit comprises an electric charge storage element, coupled to a voltage sensing end, wherein the voltage sensing end is coupled to the first output buffer and the second output buffer; and a voltage regulating unit, coupled to the voltage sensing end, for regulating a voltage level of the voltage sensing end within a predetermined range.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Please refer to
In detail, when the first output buffer 402 needs to release the electric charges to reduce the first source driving signal SD_sig1 according to the frame signal FRM1, for example, in a period when the first source driving signal SD_sig1 and the second source driving signal SD_sig2 are both high, the electric charge storage unit 400 can receive and store the electric charges released by the first output buffer 402 according to the voltage variation of the first output buffer 402 sensed via the voltage sensing end 410. On the other hand, when the second output buffer 404 needs to absorb the electric charges to increase the second source driving signal SD_sig2 according to the frame signal FRM2, for example, in a period when the first source driving signal SD_sig1 and the second source driving signal SD_sig2 are both increased from low to high, the electric charge storage unit 400 can output the stored electric charges to the second output buffer 404 according to the voltage variation of the second output buffer 404 sensed via the voltage sensing end 410, to provide required electric charges. Therefore, the second output buffer 404 can reuse the electric charges released by the first output buffer 402 according to charge sharing provided by the source driver 40, without needing to obtain the required electric charges from the intermediate voltage source V_M. As a result, the electric power can be saved.
According to the prior art as shown in
Please note that, in the source driver 40, the electric charge storage unit 400 is used for storing and outputting the electric charges according to a sensing result obtained from the voltage sensing end 410. The electric charge storage unit 400 is not limited to any specific implementation. For example, please refer to
Preferably, the voltage regulating unit 506 includes a voltage buffer 508 and a comparing and controlling device 510. The comparing and controlling device 510 can first compare, via the voltage sensing end 504, the intermediate voltage source V_M with a predetermined high voltage and a predetermined low voltage that define a predetermined voltage range. Then, the comparing and controlling device 510 can generate a selection signal SLT_sig to the voltage buffer 508 according to a comparison result, for controlling the voltage buffer 508, via the voltage sensing end 504, to perform discharging, no operation or charging on the first output buffer 402 and the second output buffer 404 by using the electric charge storage element 502. Besides, the voltage buffer 508 is not limited to any specific implementation as long as it is able to perform charging and discharging on the electric charge storage element 502 according to the selection signal SLT_sig. For example, the voltage buffer 508 preferably includes an output stage including an N-type output transistor and a P-type output transistor coupled in series, wherein gates of the N-type output transistor and P-type output transistor are coupled together for receiving and responding to the selection signal SLT_sig.
Operation of the electric charge storage unit 500 is further illustrated as follows. When the first output buffer 402 decreases the level of the first source driving signal SD_sig1 according to the frame signal FRM1, the first output buffer 402 can release electric charges, causing a voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M to increase. When the comparing and controlling device 510 detects that the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M is higher than the predetermined high voltage, the comparing and controlling device 510 generates the selection signal SLT_sig to the voltage buffer 508, for controlling the voltage buffer 508 to use the electric charge storage element 502 for performing charging via the voltage sensing end 504, so as to absorb the electric charges released by the first output buffer 402. Therefore, the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M can decrease back into the predetermined range. On the other hand, when the second output buffer 404 reduces the second source driving signal SD_sig2 according to the frame signal FRM2, the second output buffer 404 can absorb electric charges, causing the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M to decrease. When the comparing and controlling device 510 detects that the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M is lower than the predetermined low voltage, the comparing and controlling device 510 can generate the selection signal SLT_sig to the voltage buffer 508, for controlling the voltage buffer 508 to use the electric charge storage element 502 for performing discharging via the voltage sensing end 504, so as to output the electric charges to the second output buffer 404. Therefore, the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M can increase back into the predetermined range. Besides, when the comparing and controlling device 510 detects that the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M is within the predetermined range, the comparing and controlling device 510 can generate the selection signal SLT_sig to the voltage buffer 508, for controlling the voltage buffer 508 to direct the electric charge storage element 502 not to operate, thereby maintaining an original status of no operation, or stopping charging and discharging.
In other words, when the first output buffer 402 or the second output buffer 404 changes the source driving signal, the electric charges moves and the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M varies accordingly. When the comparing and controlling device 510 detects that the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M is beyond the predetermined range, the selection signal SLT_sig is correspondingly generated, for controlling the voltage buffer 508 to use the electric charge storage element 502 for performing charging, no operation or discharging via the voltage sensing end 504. As a result, when the first output buffer 402 releases the electric charges, the electric charge storage unit 500 is triggered to store the released electric charges in the electric charge storage element 502. Conversely, when the second output buffer 404 requires the electric charges, the electric charge storage unit 500 is triggered to release the stored electric charges to the second output buffer 404. On the other hand, when the first output buffer 402 and the second output buffer 404 stop changing the source driving signals and therefore cause no movement of the electric charges, the pulling-back of the voltage of the intermediate voltage source V_M back into the predetermined range can trigger the electric charge storage unit 500 to stop operation. Therefore, no matter how or when the electric charges of the first output buffer 402 and the second output buffer 404 are varied, the electric charge storage unit 500 can reuse the electric charges and the electric power can be greatly saved accordingly.
Please note that, the low voltage source V_L of the first output buffer 402 and the high voltage source V_H of the second output buffer 404 shown in
On the other hand, another embodiment of a source driver capable of reusing electric charges is also provided. Please refer to
In detail, when the electric charge storage unit 700 does not operate, the first switch device 710 and the second switch device 712 are controlled to be turned off. When the first output buffer 702 decreases the level of the first source driving signal SD_sig1 according to the frame signal FRM1, the first output buffer 702 needs to release electric charges. In this situation, the voltage sensing end 714 senses a voltage decrease at the first output end 706. Accordingly, the electric charge storage unit 700 controls the first switch device 710 to be turned on and stores the electric charges released by the first output buffer 706. On the other hand, when the second output buffer 704 increases the level of the second source driving signal SD_sig2 according to the frame signal FRM2, the second output buffer 704 needs to absorb electric charges. In this situation, the voltage sensing end 714 senses a voltage increase at the second output end 708. Accordingly, the electric charge storage unit 700 controls the second switch device 712 to be turned on and output the stored electric charges to the second output buffer 708. Therefore, according to charge sharing provided by the electric charge storage unit 700, the second output buffer 704 can reuse the electric charges released by the first output buffer 702 without needing to obtain required electric charges from the common high voltage source VCH, and therefore the electric power can be saved. It can be note that, according to the prior art shown in
Please note that, in the source driver 70, the electric charge storage unit 700 is used for storing and outputting the electric charges according to a sensing result obtained from the voltage sensing end 714, and the detailed structure and operation of the electric charge storage unit 700 is not limited herein. For example, the electric charge storage unit 700 may compare voltages of the first output end 706 and the second output end 708 respectively with a predetermined high voltage and a predetermined low voltage which define a predetermined voltage range, via the voltage sensing end 714. When the electric charge storage unit 700 detects that the voltage of first output end 706 is higher than the predetermined high voltage, the electric charge storage unit 700 can control the first switch device 710 to be turned on and store the electric charges released by the first output buffer 706. Accordingly, the voltage of first output end 706 can decrease back into the predetermined voltage range. Conversely, when the electric charge storage unit 700 detects that the voltage of first output end 706 is lower than the predetermined high voltage, the electric charge storage unit 700 can control the first switch device 710 to be turned off and stop charging. On the other hand, when the electric charge storage unit 700 detects that the voltage of second output end 708 is lower than the predetermined low voltage, the electric charge storage unit 700 can control the second switch device 712 to be turned on and output the stored electric charges to the second output buffer 708. Accordingly, the voltage of second output end 708 can increase back into the predetermined voltage range. Conversely, when the electric charge storage unit 700 detects that the voltage of second output end 708 is higher than the predetermined low voltage, the electric charge storage unit 700 can control the second switch device 712 to be turned off and stop discharging. As a result, no matter how or when the electric charges of the first output buffer 702 and the second output buffer 704 are varied, the electric charge storage unit 700 can reuse the electric charges, and the electric power can be greatly saved accordingly.
Besides, the electric charge storage unit 700 is not limited to any specific implementation. The electric charge storage unit 500 in
The spirit of the embodiment is to use an electric charge storage unit for storing and outputting electric charges according to voltage variations of a first output buffer and a second output buffer, to save electric power. Modifications and alterations can be made according to any specific requirement, and are not limited to the above illustrations. For example, regarding circuit implementation, the first output buffer, the second output buffer and the voltage buffer stated above are preferably realized by using operational amplifiers. In addition, to increase a response speed of a circuit to the voltage variations, each of the first output buffer and the second output buffer can be realized by an N-type output transistor and a P-type output transistor coupled in series. Moreover, the electric charge storage element can be realized by an operational amplifier and a capacitor. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited herein. Besides, take the source driver 70 in
Please note that, an LCD device is disclosed for purpose of illustration. Those skilled in the art should readily make modifications or alterations for various kinds of electronic display devices, such as a plasma display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device and a projector, to reduce the power consumption, and embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.
To sum up, a driving device and a driving method are provided, which can store and output electric charges according to voltage variations of output buffers and can therefore reduce power consumption.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100125941 | Jul 2011 | TW | national |