Redundant control system for LCD
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 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.
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 backlight positioned to illuminate the TFT array; and
a processor adapted to sense a failure in the first gate driver, first source driver, or first DIB and if so, increase the luminance produced by the backlight.
4. A redundant control system for a backlit TFT array comprising:
a plurality of horizontal conduction lines;
a first gate driver in electrical contact with only half of the horizontal conduction lines;
a second gate driver in electrical contact with only the remaining horizontal conduction lines that are not in electrical contact with the first gate driver;
a plurality of vertical conduction lines;
a source driver in electrical contact with the vertical conduction lines; and
a processor adapted to increase the luminance through the TFT array if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver or second gate driver.
5. The redundant control system of claim 4 wherein:
the processor is adapted to turn off the failed driver and continue operations with the remaining driver if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver or the second gate driver.
6. The redundant control system of claim 4 further comprising:
a redundant source driver in electrical contact with some of the vertical conduction lines.
7. The redundant control system of claim 6 wherein:
the processor is adapted to turn off the source driver and continue operations with the redundant source driver if the processor senses a failure in the source driver.
8. The redundant control system of claim 6 wherein:
the processor is adapted to turn off the source driver and continue operations with the redundant source driver if the processor senses a failure in the source driver,
continue operations with the second gate driver if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver, and
continue operations with the first gate driver if the processor senses a failure in the second gate driver.
9. The redundant control system of claim 6 wherein:
the processor is adapted to turn off the source driver and continue operations with the redundant source driver if the processor senses a failure in the source driver,
continue operations with the second gate driver and increase the luminance produced by the backlight if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver, and
continue operations with the first gate driver and increase the luminance produced by the backlight if the processor senses a failure in the second gate driver.
10. A redundant control system for a TFT array comprising:
a plurality of horizontal conduction lines;
a first gate driver in electrical contact only with every other horizontal conduction line;
a second gate driver in electrical contact with only the horizontal conductions lines which are not in electrical contact with the first gate driver;
a plurality of vertical conduction lines;
a first source driver in electrical contact with only every other vertical conduction line;
a second source driver in electrical contact with only the vertical conduction lines which are not in electrical contact with the first source driver;
a backlight positioned to illuminate the TFT array; and
a processor adapted to increase the luminance produced by the backlight if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver, the first source driver, the first source driver, or the second source driver.
11. The redundant control system of claim 10 further comprising:
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.
12. The redundant control system of claim 11 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.
13. The redundant control system of claim 12 wherein:
the processor is adapted to continue operations with the second source driver, the second DIB, and the second power supply if the processor senses a failure in the first source driver, the first DIB, or the first power supply.
14. The redundant control system of claim 12 wherein:
the processor is adapted to continue operations with the second source driver, the second DIB, and the second power supply while increasing the luminance produced by the backlight if the processor senses a failure in the first source driver, the first DIB, or the first power supply.
15. The redundant control system of claim 10 wherein:
the processor is adapted to continue operations with the second gate driver if the processor senses a failure in the first gate driver.
16. The redundant control system of claim 10 wherein:
the processor is adapted to continue operations with the second source driver if the processor senses a failure in the first source driver.