This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 95143496, filed Nov. 24, 2006. All disclosure of the Taiwan application is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a source driving device, and more particularly, to a source driving device that utilizes pre-charging voltage and driving voltage to charge/discharge a display panel thereof in stages.
2. Description of Related Art
A source driving device is a key element for a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD). The source driving device converts digital latch data required for image displaying into analog voltage, and outputs to a pixel array of the TFT LCD, on which images corresponding to the digital latch data are displayed.
Referring
Meanwhile, charges on two adjacent channels are redistributed so that pixel voltage levels thereof are raised or lowered respectively to a median voltage level. For example, a level of a pixel voltage VP11 declines in the second period T2 to a level of a median voltage VM11, and a level of a pixel voltage VP12 rises in the second period T2 to a level of a median voltage VM12. Next, the switches SW11-SW14 turn on in a third period T3 according to control signal CS12 such that the levels of the pixel voltages raised/lowered to a level of an analog voltage. For example, in the third period T3, the level of the pixel voltage VP11 declines to the level of the analog voltage VD11, and the level of the pixel voltage VP12 rises to the level of the analog voltage VD12.
However, even the conventional source driving device 110 intends to reduce power consumption by redistributing charges thereby, when the levels of the pixel voltage rise, or decline to the level of the reference voltage, the output current of the operational amplifying circuits must increase so as to have enough time to adjust the voltage levels. In other words, for the purpose of obtaining a fast charging/discharging ability, the conventional source driving device 110 must sacrifice certain power consumption of the operational amplifying circuits. Further, as large sized panels becoming popularized, the method of the conventional source driving device 110 can not efficiently improve the charging/discharging ability thereof. Therefore, it is critical that the source driving device, in the art of TFT LCD, to obtain faster charging/discharging ability, without consuming more power of the operational amplifying circuits.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a source driving device including a staged converting output unit for charging/discharging the pixel array in stages, wherein the source driving device has fast charging/discharging capability and consume comparatively less power of the operational amplifying circuits.
The present invention provides a source driving device for a pixel array of a liquid crystal display (LCD). The source driving device includes a data latch unit and a plurality of staged converting output units. The data latch unit is configured for outputting a plurality of digital latch data according to a latch result. Each staged converting output unit is adapted for generating a precharging voltage in a first period by converting a digital precharging data, and generating a driving voltage in a second period by converting a digital latch data. As such, each staged converting output unit is capable of charging/discharging the pixel array in stages with the precharging voltage and the driving voltage. The digital latch data has a resolution of (M+L) bits, and the digital precharging data has a resolution of M bits, M and L being integers greater than 0.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the (M+L) bits of the foregoing digital latch data are from b[1] to b[M+L], in which b[1] is the most significant bit of the digital latch data, and b[M+L] is the least significant bit of the digital latch data, then the M bits of the digital precharging data are from b[1] to b[M].
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the source driving device further includes a plurality of switches. The switches turn on during a third period, wherein charges of two adjacent channels are redistributed according to the conduction of the switches. Thus, power consumption of the source driving device may be effectively reduced.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the foregoing staged converting output unit includes a coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter and a fine adjustment digital-to-analog converter. The coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter is adapted for generating a precharging voltage according to digital precharging data in the first period, while the fine adjustment digital-to-analog converter is adapted for generating a driving voltage according to the digital latch data in the second period.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter includes a third digital-to-analog converting circuit, a second buffer circuit, and a first switch. The third digital-to-analog converting circuit is adapted for selecting one from 2̂M pre-adjusted voltages to output according to the digital precharging data. The second buffer circuit is adapted for improving the driving capability of the output signals of the third digital-to-analog converting circuit, so as to generate precharging voltages. The first switch is turned on during the first period.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing fine adjustment digital-to-analog converter further includes a fourth digital-to-analog converting circuit, an operational amplifying circuit, and a second switch. The fourth digital-to-analog converting circuit is adapted for selecting one from 2̂(M+L) grey level voltages to output according to the digital latch data. The operational amplifying circuit is adapted for improving the driving capability of the output signals of the fourth digital-to-analog converting circuit, so as to generate driving voltages. The second switch is turned on during the second period.
The present invention charges/discharges a pixel array in stages with a precharging voltage generated by a staged converting output unit during a first period and a driving voltage generated by the staged converting output unit during a second period. In such a way, the power consumption of the operational amplifying circuits may be effectively reduced, and speed of the source driving device in charging/discharging the pixel array may be effectively increased.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
The main feature of the present invention includes charging/discharging the pixel array in stages with the precharging voltage and the driving voltage generated by staged converting output units so that the source driving device is capable of charging/discharging rapidly even when the power consumption of the operational amplifying circuits is reduced. The source driving device according to the present invention is exemplified and illustrated below for better illustration, rather than for limiting the present invention. However, it should be noted that those of ordinary skill in the art may modify the following embodiments, which shall be construed to be within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the first period T1, the staged converting output unit 320 generates a precharging voltage VC31 by converting the digital precharging data DC31. Correspondingly, the voltage level of the pixel voltage VP31 in the first period changes to the voltage level of the precharging voltage VC31. In the second period T2, the staged converting output unit 320 generates a driving voltage VL31, by converting the digital latch data DL3. Similarly, during the second period T2, the voltage level of the pixel voltage VP31 changes to the voltage level of the driving voltage VL31. In other words the staged converting output unit 320 charges/discharges the pixel array in stages by employing the precharging voltage VC31 and the driving voltage VL31 to change voltage level of the pixel voltage VP31.
Likewise, when the staged converting output unit 330 is in the first period T1, it generates the precharging voltage VC32 by converting the digital precharging data DC32. When the staged converting output unit 330 is in the second period T2, it generates the driving voltage VL32 by converting the digital latch data DL32. In such a way, the level of the pixel voltage VP32 changes as the levels of the precharging voltage VC32 and the driving voltage VL32 change. Thus, the staged converting output unit 330 charges/discharges the pixel array 302 in stages. The rest staged converting output units 340-370 may be deduced by analogy.
It is to be noted that the (M+L) bits of the digital latch data DL31-DL36 is “b[1] to b[M+L]”, wherein b[1] is the most significant bit of the digital latch data DL31-DL36, and b[M+L] is the least significant bit of the digital latch data DL31-DL36, then the M bits of digital precharging data DC31-DC36 is “b[1] to b[M]”.
Referring
For example, the staged converting output units 320-350 are respectively the 1st to the 4th converting output units of the source driving device 301, and the switches SW31 and SW32 are respectively the first and the second switches of the source driving device 301. Therefore, a first terminal of the switch SW31 is coupled to an output terminal of the staged converting output unit 320, and a second terminal of the switch SW31 is coupled to an output terminal of the staged converting output unit 330. Similarly, a first terminal of the switch SW32 is coupled to an output terminal of the staged converting output unit 340, and a second terminal of the switch SW32 is coupled to an output terminal of the staged converting output unit 350. Likewise, the switch SW33 is coupled to the converting output units 360-370.
Referring to
It is to be noted that before the first period T1 and the third period T3, the data latch unit 310 generates digital latch data DL31-DL36 in accordance with the data latch signal LD.
The coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter 510 includes a digital-to-analog converting circuit 511, a buffer circuit 512 and a switch SW51. The buffer circuit 512 is coupled to the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511, and the switch SW51 is coupled between the buffer circuit 512 and the pixel array 302.
It is to be noted that those skilled in the art may modify the present invention, for example, the switch SW51 may be integrated into the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511 or the buffer circuit 512. The digital-to-analog converting circuit 511 is also composed of a plurality of switches so that it is feasible to integrate the switch SW51 into the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511. As to the buffer circuit 512, the transistors included by the buffer circuit 512 may be combined with the switch SW51. For example, in order to combine the switch SW51 into the buffer circuit 512, a gate level of a P-type transistor included by the buffer circuit 512 can be raised to the operation voltage by the switch SW51, or a gate level of an N-type transistor included by the buffer circuit 512 can be lowered to a ground level by the switch SW51.
Furthermore, if the switches comprising the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511 are large enough, not only the switch SW51 can be integrated into the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511, but also the buffer circuit 512 can be removed. In other words, when integrating the switch SW51 into the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511, those who are skilled in the art can remove the buffer circuit 512 from the coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter 510 according to the practical application, and the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511 electrically connected to the pixel array 302. As such, the digital-to-analog converting circuit 511 selects one from the pre-adjusted voltages, VT(1) to VT(2̂M), to output as the precharging voltage VC31, according to the digital precharging data DC31.
Further, as shown in
Referring to
It should be noted that, the grey level voltage generator 530 is coupled to the staged converting output units 320-370, and generates grey level voltages VG(1) to VG(2̂(M+L)) thereby. Those of ordinary skill in the art may set the grey level voltage generator 530 within the source driving device 301, or externally coupled to the source driving device 301 according to practical requirement. The pre-charged voltages VT(1) to VT(2̂M) can be provided by external elements of the source driving device 301, or by selecting 2̂M from the grey level voltages VG(1) to VG(2̂(M+L)) generated by the grey level voltage generator 530.
In the first period T1, the switch SW72 turns on according to the control signal PRE. As shown in
The embodiment of
However, it is to be noted that the buffer circuit 512 of
Referring to
Furthermore, the source driving device according to the present invention is adapted for pixel arrays of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Such LCDs include TFT LCDs.
In summary, the present invention utilizes a precharging voltage generated by a coarse adjustment digital-to-analog converter, and a driving voltage generated by a fine adjustment digital-to-analog converter, to change levels of pixel voltage, by which the staged converting output unit can charge/discharge the pixel array in stages. As such, the present invention can reduce static power consumption of the operational amplifying circuit, and can charge/discharge rapidly.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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95143496 | Nov 2006 | TW | national |