Scan driving circuit and apparatus thereof

The present application is a National Phase of International Application Number PCT/CN2018/071911, filed on Jan. 9, 2018, and claims the priority of China Application No. 201710641210.2, filed on Jul. 31, 2017.

The disclosure relates to a display technical field, and more particularly to a scan driving circuit and an apparatus thereof.

A gate driver on array (GOA) circuit is to manufacture a scan driving circuit on an array substrate of existing thin film transistor liquid crystal display, so as to achieve a driving manner of scanning the scanning lines line by line.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 , which is a circuit schematic of a conventional scan driving circuit. Reference is made to FIG. 2 , which is a circuit schematic of a conventional scan driving unit. The scan driving circuit is implemented by P-type thin film transistor (TFT). By analyzing the circuit shown as FIG. 1 , clock signal XCK is low potential voltage in period T 0 , and a capacitor C 3 is charged, to hold low potential voltage for a transistor M 4 in period T 1 . In the period T 1 , since clock signal CK is low potential voltage and a transistor M 5 , potential voltage of a previous stage scanning signal, a transistor M 6 are conducted, potential voltage higher than a threshold of the TFT is obtained due to three dividing voltages passed through a point A, so as to cut off transistors M 2 and M 9 . However, the point A connected with a plurality of TFTs in series is unstable, and might conduct the transistors M 2 or M 9 to pull up potential voltage at a point Q, thus lead to output wrong scanning signal.

A scan driving circuit and an apparatus are disclosed, which could avoid the potential voltage is unstable at a control point due to the control point connected with a plurality of TFTs in series. Thus, accuracy of scanning signal outputted from scanning lines could be raised.

In one aspect, this disclosure provides a scan driving circuit having a plurality of scan driving units coupled in cascade. A (N)-cascaded scan driving unit includes: a first control module, configured for receiving a (N-1)-stage scanning signal to control electric potential of a first node; a second control module, configured for controlling electric potential of a second node according to the (N-1)-stage scanning signal, a (N-2)-stage scanning signal, a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and a first constant voltage signal; and an output module, configured for outputting a (N)-stage scanning signal according to the electric potential of the first node and the electric potential of the second node. The second control module includes a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a potential holding unit and a first switch control unit; a first control end and a first end of the first switch unit receive a first clock signal, and a second control end of the first switch unit is coupled to the first switch control unit; the second control end of the first switch unit is coupled to a first end of the second switch unit, a second end of the second switch unit receives the first constant voltage signal; the second node is coupled to a point connected the first switch unit and the second switch unit. The potential holding unit is configured for holding the electric potential of the second node. A control end of the second switch unit receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal, the first switch control unit is configured for controlling the first switch unit, according to the second clock signal, the (N-1)-stage scanning signal, the (N-2)-stage scanning signal, and the first constant voltage signal passed through the second control end of the first switch unit, to control the first switch unit, for operating that the first switch unit and the second switch unit are not conducted at the same time.

In other aspect, this disclosure provides an array substrate, which includes the scan driving circuit said above.

In another aspect, this disclosure provides a display panel, which includes the array substrate said above. The array substrate includes the scan driving circuit said above.

In this disclosure, the scan driving circuit has scan driving units coupled in cascade. A (N)-cascaded scan driving unit includes a first control module, a second control module, and an output module. The second control module includes a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a potential holding unit and a first switch control unit. A control end of the second switch unit receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal, the first switch control unit is configured for controlling the first switch unit, according to the second clock signal, the (N-1)-stage scanning signal, the (N-2)-stage scanning signal, and the first constant voltage signal passed through the second control end of the first switch unit, to control the first switch unit, for operating that the first switch unit and the second switch unit are not conducted at the same time. The scan driving circuit could avoid, during operating process of a scanning circuit, the potential voltage is unstable at a control point due to the control point connected with a plurality of TFTs in series. Thus, accuracy of scanning signal outputted from scanning lines could be raised.

Accompanying drawings are for providing further understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. The drawings form a part of the disclosure and are for illustrating the principle of the embodiments of the disclosure along with the literal description. Apparently, the drawings in the description below are merely some embodiments of the disclosure, a person skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative efforts. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a circuit schematic of a conventional scan driving circuit;

FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic of a conventional scan driving unit;

FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic of a scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic of a scan driving unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a circuit schematic of a first control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a circuit schematic of another first control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a circuit schematic of a first switch unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a circuit schematic of a potential holding unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a circuit schematic of a first switch control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a circuit schematic of an output module according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a circuit schematic of another scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a clock schematic of the scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In order to understand the above objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure more clearly, the present disclosure is described in detail below with references to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 , which is a circuit schematic of a scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A gate driver on array (GOA) circuit could be applied in a display panel. The GOA circuit includes a plurality of GOA units in cascade. N is assumed as a positive integer, and a (N)-cascaded GOA unit includes a (N)-cascaded scan driving circuit, configured for driving a (N)-stage scanning line within display area.

Reference is made to FIG. 4 , which is a circuit schematic of a scan driving unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A scan driving unit includes:

a first control module 410 , configured for receiving a (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) to control electric potential of a first node Q(N);

a second control module 420 , configured for controlling electric potential of a second node according to the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1), a (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2), a first clock signal CK 1 , a second clock signal CK 2 , and a first constant voltage signal VGH; and an output module 430 , configured for outputting a (N)-stage scanning signal G(N) according to the electric potential of the first node Q(N) and the electric potential of the second node P(N);

wherein the second control module 420 includes a first switch unit 421 , a second switch unit 422 , a potential holding unit 423 and a first switch control unit 424 ; a first control end and a first end of the first switch unit 421 receive a first clock signal CK 1 , and a second control end of the first switch unit 421 is coupled to the first switch control unit 424 ; the second control end of the first switch unit 421 is coupled to a first end of the second switch unit 422 , a second end of the second switch unit 422 receives the first constant voltage signal VGH; the second node P(N) is coupled to a point connected the first switch unit 421 and the second switch unit 422 ;

the potential holding unit 423 is configured for holding the electric potential of the second node P(N); and a control end of the second switch unit 422 receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal Q(N-1), the first switch control unit 424 is configured for controlling the first switch unit 421 , according to the second clock signal CK 2 , the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1), the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2), and the first constant voltage signal VGH passed through the second control end of the first switch unit 421 , to control the first switch unit 421 , for operating that the first switch unit 421 and the second switch unit 422 are not conducted at the same time.

In one embodiment, the scan driving circuit has a plurality of scan driving units coupled in cascade. A (N)-cascaded scan driving unit at least one includes a first control module 410 , a second control module 420 , and an output module 430 . The second control module 420 includes a first switch unit 421 , a second switch unit 422 , a potential holding unit 423 and a first switch control unit 424 . A control end of the second switch unit 422 receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1), the first switch control unit 424 is configured for controlling the first switch unit 421 , according to the second clock signal CK 2 , the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1), the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2), and the first constant voltage signal VGH passed through the second control end of the first switch unit 421 , to control the first switch unit 421 , for operating that the first switch unit 421 and the second switch unit 422 are not conducted at the same time. Thus, the scan driving circuit could avoid the potential voltage is unstable at a control point due to the control point connected with a plurality of TFTs in series. Thus, accuracy of scanning signal outputted from scanning lines could be raised.

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 5 , which is a circuit schematic of a first control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The first control module 500 includes a first switch transistor T 1 , a second switch transistor T 2 and a first capacitor C 1 ;

wherein a source and a gate of the first switch transistor T 1 receive the (N-1)-cascaded scanning signal G(N-1); a drain of the first switch transistor T 1 is coupled to a first end of the first capacitor C 1 , a second end of the first capacitor C 1 is coupled to an output of the output module 430 ; the first end of the first capacitor C 1 is the first node Q(N); a source of the second switch transistor T 2 is coupled to the drain of the first switch transistor T 1 , a drain of the second switch transistor T 2 is coupled to the first constant voltage signal VGH; a gate of the second switch transistor T 2 is coupled to the second node P(N).

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 6 , which is a circuit schematic of another first control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. the first control module 600 includes a first switch transistor T 1 , a second switch transistor T 2 , a third switch transistor T 3 , and a first capacitor C 1 ;

wherein a drain of the first switch transistor T 1 is coupled to a source of the third switch transistor T 3 , a drain of the third switch transistor T 3 is coupled to a first end of the first capacitor C 1 ; a second end of the first capacitor C 1 is coupled to an output of the output module 430 ; the first end of the first capacitor C 1 is the first node Q(N); a gate of the third switch transistor T 3 is coupled to a second constant voltage signal VGL; the conduction of the third switch transistor T 3 is controlled by the second constant voltage signal VGL; a point connected the first switch transistor T 1 and the third switch transistor T 3 is coupled to a source of the second switch transistor T 2 , a drain of the second switch transistor T 2 receives the first constant voltage signal VGH; the gate of the third switch transistor T 3 is coupled to the second node P(N).

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 7 , which is a circuit schematic of a first switch unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. the first switch unit 700 includes a fourth switch transistor T 4 and a fifth switch transistor T 5 ;

a source of the fourth switch transistor T 4 receives the first clock signal CK 1 , a drain of the fourth switch transistor T 4 is coupled to a source of the fifth switch transistor T 5 ; a drain of the fifth switch transistor T 5 is coupled to the second node P(N); a gate of the fourth switch transistor T 4 is the second control end of the first switch transistor T 1 , coupled to the first switch control unit 424 ; a gate of the fifth switch transistor T 5 is the first control end of the first switch transistor T 1 , and receives the first clock signal CK 1 .

In one embodiment, the second switch unit 422 includes a sixth switch transistor T 6 , a source of the sixth switch transistor T 6 is coupled to the second end of the first switch unit 421 ; a drain of the sixth switch transistor T 6 receives the first constant voltage signal VGH; a gate of the sixth switch transistor T 6 receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1).

In one embodiment, the potential holding unit 423 includes a second capacitor C 2 ; a first end of the second capacitor 421 is coupled to the second node P(N), a second end of the second capacitor C 2 is coupled to a first constant voltage source.

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 8 , which a circuit schematic of a potential is holding unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. the potential holding unit 800 includes a seventh switch transistor T 7 and a second capacitor C 2 ;

wherein a gate of the seventh switch transistor T 7 receives the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2); a drain of the seventh switch transistor T 7 is coupled to the first end of the second capacitor C 2 , the second end of the second capacitor C 2 is coupled to the first constant voltage source; a point connected the seventh switch transistor T 7 and the second capacitor C 2 are coupled to the second node P(N).

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 9 , which is a circuit schematic of a first switch control module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The first switch control unit 900 includes an eighth switch transistor T 8 , a ninth switch transistor T 9 and a third capacitor C 3 ;

wherein a source and a gate of the eighth switch transistor T 8 receives the second clock signal CK 2 ; the second control end of the first switch unit 421 and a first end of the third capacitor C 3 are coupled to a drain of the eighth switch transistor T 8 ; a second end of the third capacitor C 3 receives the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2); a point connected the eighth switch transistor T 8 and the third capacitor C 3 is coupled to a source of the ninth switch transistor T 9 ; a drain of the ninth switch transistor T 9 receives the first constant voltage signal VGH; a gate of the ninth switch transistor T 9 receives the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1).

In one embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 10 , which is a circuit schematic of an output module according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The output module 1000 includes a tenth switch transistor T 10 and an eleventh switch transistor T 11 ;

wherein a source of the tenth switch transistor T 10 receives the second clock signal CK 2 ; a drain of the tenth switch transistor T 10 is coupled to a source of the eleventh switch transistor T 11 , a drain of the eleventh switch transistor T 11 receives the first constant voltage signal VGH; a gate of the tenth switch transistor T 10 is coupled to the first node Q(N); a gate of the eleventh switch transistor T 11 is coupled to the second node P(N); a point connected the tenth switch transistor T 10 and the eleventh switch transistor T 11 outputs the N-stage scanning signal G(N).

Reference is made to FIG. 11 , which is a circuit schematic of another scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. All the transistors shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 11 are P-type transistors (the sources and the drains are conducted while the gates are the low potential voltage). In other embodiment, all or some transistors could be replaced by N-type transistors (the sources and the drains are conducted while the gates are the high potential voltage), and there is not limited thereto. However, connections of the source and the drain in respect with each transistor can be adjusted according to the type of the transistor selected. Under a condition that the structures of the source and the drain are symmetrical, the type of the transistor should be not distinguished. It is known by the person skilled in the art, there is omitted herein.

It should be illustrated, polarities of the first clock signal CK 1 , the second clock signal CK 2 , the first constant voltage signal VGH, the second constant voltage signal VGL and the initial scanning signal with respect to the P-type transistors in the scan driving circuit are opposite to polarities of the first clock signal CK 1 , the second clock signal CK 2 , the first constant voltage signal VGH, the second constant voltage signal VGL and the initial scanning signal with respect to the N-type transistors in the scan driving circuit.

The transistors are illustrated by PMOS as following.

Reference is made to FIG. 12 , which is a clock schematic of the scan driving circuit according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In each operating period, the first constant voltage signal VGH is high potential voltage, the second constant voltage signal VGL is low potential voltage and the third transistor T 3 is conducted.

In a first operating period (t 1 ), the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) is the low potential voltage, the first switch transistor T 1 , the sixth switch transistor T 6 , and the ninth switch transistor T 9 are conducted.

The first switch transistor T 1 and the third switch transistor T 3 are conducted. The low potential voltage of the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) is outputted to the first node Q(N) to pull down the potential voltage thereof, and the tenth switch transistor T 10 is conducted. At this time, the (N)-stage scanning signal G(N) outputs the high potential voltage of the second clock signal CK 2 , and the first capacitor C 1 is charged.

The second clock signal CK 2 is the high potential voltage and the eighth switch transistor T 8 is cut off. The first clock signal CK 1 is the low potential voltage and the fifth switch transistor T 5 is conducted. In a start operating period (t 0 ), the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2) is the low potential voltage, the second clock signal CK 2 is the low potential voltage, the eighth switch T 8 is conducted, the third capacitor C 3 is discharged. Thus, in the first operating period (t 1 ), the potential voltage of the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2) is changed from the low to the high, the second clock signal CK 2 is the high potential voltage, the eighth switch T 8 is cut off. While the potential voltage of the (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2) is changed from low to high, the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage VGH is outputted to the gate of the fourth switch transistor T 4 since the third capacitor C 3 and conduction of the ninth switch transistor T 9 . At this time, that the fourth switch transistor T 4 is cut off prevents the high potential voltage of the first clock signal CK 1 is outputted to the second node P(N), and prevents dividing voltage at the second node P(N) is caused by the fourth switch transistor T 4 , the fifth switch transistor T 5 , and sixth switch transistor T 6 are concurrently conducted.

The first constant voltage signal VGH is the high potential voltage and the seventh switch transistor T 7 is cut off. Since the sixth switch transistor T 6 is conducted, the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage signal VGH is outputted to the second node P(N), and the second switch transistor T 2 and the eleventh switch transistor T 11 are cut off.

In a second operating period (t 2 ), the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) is at the high potential voltage, the first switch transistor T 1 , the sixth switch transistor T 6 , and the ninth switch transistor T 9 are cut off. The potential voltage of the first node Q(N) maintains at low due to the first capacitor C 1 and conduction of the tenth switch transistor T 10 , thus the (N)-stage scanning signal G(N) outputs the low potential voltage of the second clock signal CK 2 .

While the second clock signal CK 2 is at the low potential voltage, the eighth switch transistor T 8 and fourth switch transistor T 4 are conducted, the first clock signal CK 1 is at the low potential voltage, the fifth switch transistor T 5 is cut off, and the high potential voltage of the first clock signal CK 1 could not be outputted to the second node P(N); the sixth switch transistor T 6 is cut off, and the first constant voltage signal VGH also could not be outputted to the second node P(N). Since the second node P(N) is at the high potential voltage in the first operating period (t 1 ), the potential voltage of the second node P(N) maintains at low, and the second switch transistor T 2 and the eleventh switch transistor T 11 are cut off.

In a third operating period (t 3 ), the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) is at the high potential voltage, the first switch transistor T 1 , the sixth switch transistor T 6 , and the ninth switch transistor T 9 are cut off. The second clock signal CK 2 is at the high potential voltage; since the third capacitor C 3 is charged at previous stage, the third capacitor C 3 maintains the low potential voltage at the gate of the fourth switch transistor T 4 to conduct the fourth switch transistor T 4 . Since the first clock signal CK 1 is at the low potential voltage, the fifth switch transistor T 5 is conducted, the low potential voltage of the first clock signal CK 1 is outputted to the second node P(N), thus, the potential voltage of the second node P(N) is pulled down, the second switch transistor T 2 and the eleventh switch transistor T 11 are conducted. At this time, the (N)-stage scanning line outputs the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage signal VGH.

The (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2) is at the high potential voltage, the seventh switch transistor T 7 is cut off, and the second capacitor C 2 is charged.

The second switch transistor T 2 is opened, the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage signal VGH is outputted to the first node Q(N), thus the potential voltage of the first node Q(N) is pulled up, the tenth switch transistor T 10 is cut off, and the first capacitor C 1 is discharged.

In a fourth operating period (t 4 ), the (N-1)-stage scanning signal G(N-1) is at the high potential voltage, the first switch transistor T 1 , the sixth switch transistor T 6 , and the ninth switch transistor T 9 are cut off.

At this time, since the second capacitor C 2 is charged, the low potential voltage at the second node P(N) is maintained, the second switch transistor T 2 and eleventh switch transistor T 11 are conducted, and the (N)-stage scanning line outputs the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage signal VGH.

The second switch transistor T 2 is opened, the high potential voltage of the first constant voltage signal VGH is outputted to the first node Q(N), thus the potential voltage of the first node Q(N) is pulled up, the tenth switch transistor T 10 is cut off, and the first capacitor C 1 is discharged.

The second clock signal CK 2 is at the low potential voltage, the eighth switch transistor T 8 and the fourth switch transistor T 4 are conducted, the first clock signal CK 1 is at the high potential voltage, and the fifth switch transistor T 5 is cut off. The (N-2)-stage scanning signal G(N-2) is at the high potential voltage, and the third capacitor C 3 is charged.

It should be noted, the “high potential voltage” and “low potential voltage” herein respectively refer to two logic states represented by a range of potential voltage at a circuit node. It should be understood, the range of potential voltage may be set according to specific application scenarios, and there is not limited thereto.

“Pull up” in this disclosure refers to raising the potential voltage at the circuit node to the high potential voltage. “Pull down” in this disclosure refers to dropping the potential voltage at the circuit node down to a low potential voltage. It should be noted, the above “pull up” and “pull down” can be achieved by the directional movement of the charges, and therefore can be implemented by the electronic components or the combination thereof with corresponding functions, and there is not limited thereto.

Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure provides an array substrate. The array substrate includes the scan driving circuit according to one of the embodiments above. It should be understood, the scan driving circuit may be disposed outside the display area to form a GOA circuit structure, and has the advantages of any one of the scan driving circuits said above.

Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure provides a display device. The display device includes the array substrate according to one of the embodiments above, and thus has the advantages of any one of the array substrates said above. It should be noted, the display device in this embodiment may be any product or component having a display function such as a display, a cell phone, a tablet, a television, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, a navigator, and etc.

It should be noted, in the description of the present disclosure that the directions or positional relationships indicated by the terms “up”, “down” and etc. are based on the orientation or the positional relationship shown in the drawings merely for the convenience of description and simplification of the description. It is not intended or implied that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation and be constructed and operated in a particular orientation and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure. The terms “mounted,” “connected,” and “connected” should be interpreted broadly, unless expressly stated and limited otherwise. For example, they may be fixed connections, removable connections, or integrally connected; may be mechanical connections, It can also be an electrical connection; those can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through the intermediary can be internal communication between the two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood based on specific situations.

It should be noted, the embodiments above-mentioned illustrate rather than limit the disclosure, and that those skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. “Including”, “comprising” or “having” do not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The disclosure can be implemented with the aid of hardware including several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. For the units of the device or apparatus described in the claims, some of those units can be implemented by one and the same item of hardware. The use of the words “first”, “second”, “third” and etc. does not denote any order, and can be interpreted as denomination.

The foregoing contents are detailed description of the disclosure in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments and concrete embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to these description. For the person skilled in the art of the disclosure, without departing from the concept of the disclosure, simple deductions or substitutions can be made and should be included in the protection scope of the application.