Testable data driver and display device including the same
A display device includes a display panel, a gate driver, a data driver, and a driving control unit. The display panel includes pixels connected to a corresponding one of gate lines and a corresponding one of data lines. The gate driver drives the gate lines. The data driver includes first pads and second pads. The first pads are connected to each of first data lines of the data lines, and the second pads are connected to each of second data lines of the data lines. The driving control unit provides control signals and a data signal to the data driver, and to control the gate driver. The data driver includes a digital-to-analog converter and a switching circuit. The digital-to-analog converter converts the data signal into analog signals. The switching circuit sequentially outputs the analog signals to the first pads during a test mode.
1. A display device comprising:
a display panel including a plurality of pixels, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of gate lines and a corresponding one of a plurality of data lines;
a gate driver configured to drive the plurality of gate lines;
a data driver including a plurality of pads, the plurality of pads including a first group of pads and a second group of pads, wherein each of the first group of pads is connected to each of a first group of data lines of the plurality of data lines, and each of the second group of pads is connected to each of a second group of data lines of the plurality of data lines; and
a driving control unit configured to provide control signals and a data signal to the data driver, and to control the gate driver,
wherein the data driver comprises:
a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert the data signal into a plurality of analog signals corresponding to each of the plurality of data lines; and
a switching circuit configured to connect each of a plurality of terminals of the digital-to-analog converter to a corresponding one of the plurality of pads at substantially the same time during a normal mode,
wherein, during a test mode, the switching circuit is further configured to connect each of a first group of output terminals of the plurality of output terminals to a corresponding one of the first group of pads in a first period, and to connect each of a second group of output terminals of the plurality of output terminals to a corresponding one of the first group of pads in a second period subsequent to the first period.
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first group of pads contacts a probe.
3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the control signals comprises a test mode signal and a clock signal,
wherein the test mode signal indicates the normal mode or the test mode.
4. The display device of claim 3 , wherein the data driver further comprises a test control unit configured to output a plurality of selection signals in response to the test mode signal.
5. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the data driver further comprises a plurality of buffers corresponding to each of the plurality of pads.
6. The display device of claim 5 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a first switching unit configured to provide a first group of analog signals of the plurality of analog signals to a corresponding one of a first group of buffers of the plurality of buffers in response to a first selection signal of the plurality of selection signals, and
wherein each of the first group of buffers corresponds to each of the first group of pads.
7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises:
a plurality of test output lines;
a second switching unit configured to connect each of the plurality of test output lines to a corresponding one of a second group of buffers of the plurality of buffers in response to the test mode signal, each of the second group of buffers corresponding to each of the first group of pads; and
a third switching unit configured to connect each of a third group of buffers of the plurality of buffers to one of the plurality of test output lines in response to a corresponding selection signal of the plurality of selection signals.
8. The display device of claim 4 , wherein the test control unit output the plurality of selection signals in synchronization with the clock signal when the test mode signal is in a first level.
9. The display device of claim 8 , wherein the test control unit sequentially activates the plurality of selection signals every predetermined period of the clock signal when the test mode signal is in the first level.
10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the first group of pads is broader than an area of each of the second group of pads.
11. A data driver comprises:
a digital-to-analog converter configured to convert a data signal into a plurality of analog signals corresponding to each of a plurality of data lines;
a test control unit configured to output a plurality of selection signals in response to a test mode signal;
a plurality of pads each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of data lines, the plurality of pads including a first group of pads and a second group of pads;
a switching circuit configured to output each of a first group of the plurality of analog signals to a corresponding one of the first group of pads in a first period, and to output each of a second group of the plurality of analog signals to a corresponding one of the first group of pads in a second period subsequent to the first period during a test mode.
12. The data driver of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first group of pads contacts a probe.
13. The data driver of claim 11 , further comprises a plurality of buffers corresponding to each of the plurality of pads.
14. The data driver of claim 13 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a first switching unit configured to provide a first group of analog signals of the plurality of analog signals to a corresponding one of a first group of buffers of the plurality of buffers in response to a first selection signal of the plurality of selection signals, and
wherein each of the first group of buffers corresponds to each of the first group of pads.
15. The display device of claim 14 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises:
a plurality of test output lines; and
a second switching unit configured to connect each of the plurality of test output lines to a corresponding one of a second group of buffers of the plurality of buffers in response to the test mode signal, the second group of buffers corresponding to each of the first group of pads.
16. The display device of claim 15 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises a third switching unit configured to connect each of a third group of buffers of the plurality of buffers to one of the plurality of test output lines in response to a corresponding selection signal of the plurality of selection signals.
17. The data driver of claim 11 , wherein an area of each of the first group of pads is broader than an area of each of the second group of pads.