Redundant control system for LCD
View Patent ↗In an exemplary embodiment, each horizontal and vertical conductor of a TFT array may be in electrical contact with a first and second control system. Initially, the entire display is driven by the first control system. When/if a failure occurs in the first control system, it is powered down and the second control system maintains operation of the entire display. Each control system may contain a set of source/gate drivers, display interface board, and power supply. A reversionary button may allow the user to manually switch between control systems. Alternatively, failure may be detected by the display interface boards or a graphics processor.
1. A redundant control system for a liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:
a TFT array having horizontal and vertical conduction lines;
a first source driver and a first gate driver which operate the TFT array;
a first display interface board (DIB) in electrical communication with the first source driver and first gate driver; and
a second source driver, second gate driver, and a second DIB in electrical communication with the second source driver and second gate driver where the second source driver, second gate driver, and second DIB are in standby mode until a failure is detected within either the first source driver, first gate driver, or first DIB.
2. The redundant control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a first power supply in electrical communication with the first DIB; and
a second power supply in electrical communication with the second DIB.
3. The redundant control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a graphics processor in electrical communication with the first and second DIBs.
4. The redundant control system of claim 3 further comprising:
a reversionary button in electrical communication with the graphics processor.
5. The redundant control system of claim 4 wherein:
the reversionary button allows a user to switch between the first DIB and second DIB.
6. The redundant control system of claim 3 wherein:
the graphics processor is adapted to detect a failure in the first source driver, first gate driver, or first DIB.
7. The redundant control system of claim 1 wherein:
the first DIB is adapted to detect a failure in the first source driver or first gate driver.
8. A method for controlling a backlit TFT array with an active first control assembly and an active second control assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
driving approximately half of the TFT array with the first control assembly;
driving the remaining approximately half of the TFT array with the second control assembly;
detecting whether a failure has occurred within the first or second control assembly;
continuing to drive the approximately half of the TFT array with the second control assembly and increasing power to the backlighting if a failure is detected in the first control assembly; and
continuing to drive the approximately half of the TFT array with the first control assembly and increasing power to the backlighting if a failure is detected in the second control assembly.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the first and second control assemblies each comprise a source driver, gate driver, display interface board (DIB), and power supply.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the step of detecting whether a failure has occurred within the first control assembly is performed by a graphics processor in electrical communication with the first control assembly.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the step of detecting whether a failure has occurred within the first control assembly is performed by a display interface board (DIB) which forms a part of the first control system.
12. A redundant control system for a backlit TFT array comprising:
a plurality of horizontal conduction lines;
a first gate driver in electrical contact with every odd numbered horizontal conduction line and no electrical contact with every even numbered horizontal conduction line;
a second gate driver in electrical contact with every even numbered horizontal conduction line and no electrical contact with every odd numbered horizontal conduction line;
a plurality of vertical conduction lines;
a first source driver in electrical contact with every odd numbered vertical conduction line;
a second source driver in electrical contact with every even numbered vertical conduction line;
a first display interface board (DIB) in electrical contact with the first gate driver and first source driver; and
a second display interface board (DIB) in electrical contact with the second gate driver and second source driver;
wherein the second gate driver, second source driver, and second DIB operate simultaneously with the first gate driver, first source driver, and first DIB.
13. The redundant control system of claim 12 further comprising:
a first power supply in electrical communication with the first DIB; and
a second power supply in electrical communication with the second DIB.
14. The redundant control system of claim 12 further comprising:
a graphics processor adapted to sense a failure in the first gate driver, first source driver, or first DIB and if so, increase power to the backlighting.