Display device with feedback via parallel connections from distributed driver circuits to a single wire interface

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a display device that includes a control circuit, an array of light emitting diode (LED) zones, and an array of zone integrated circuits that are distributed in the display area. The zone integrated circuits may comprise integrated LED and driver circuits with embedded sensors or the zone integrated circuits may comprise dedicated sensor devices. The zone integrated circuits are arranged in groups that are coupled to a shared single wire communication line. The control circuit provides control signals that control the driver circuits to drive the LED zones and may provide commands to request feedback data from the zone integrated circuits. Responsive to the commands, the zone integrated circuits output feedback data that is provided to the control circuit via the shared single wire communication line.

1 . A zone integrated circuit including a driver circuit for a display device comprising:
 control logic to operate in at least an operational mode during which the control logic obtains a driver control signal and controls a driver current to an LED zone based on the driver control signal, and the control logic further receives commands and outputs readback data responsive to the commands;   an LED driving output pin to drive the driver current based on the driver control signal during the operational mode;   a power line communication pin coupled to a power communication line to provide a supply voltage and to provide the driver control signal and the commands as digital data modulated on the supply voltage during the operational mode;   a data output pin to output the readback data to a shared single wire communication line in response to the commands during the operational mode; and   a ground pin to provide a path to ground.   
     
     
         2 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the control logic is further configured to operate in at least an addressing mode during which the control logic obtains an incoming addressing signal, stores an address for the driver circuit based on the incoming addressing signal, and generates an outgoing addressing signal for another driver circuit in a serial communication chain based on the incoming addressing signal. 
     
     
         3 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 2 , further comprising a data input pin configured to receive the incoming addressing signal from a previous driver circuit in the serial communication chain during the addressing mode. 
     
     
         4 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more LEDs of the LED zone;   wherein the one or more LEDs and the driver circuit are stacked over a substrate in an integrated package.   
     
     
         5 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise a temperature sensing request, and wherein response to receiving the temperature sensing request, the control logic obtains and outputs a sensed temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise a channel voltage sensing request, and wherein response to receiving the channel voltage sensing request, the control logic obtains and outputs a sensed channel voltage. 
     
     
         7 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise a fault detection request, and wherein response to receiving the fault detection request, the control logic obtains and outputs a fault condition. 
     
     
         8 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the commands and the driver control signals are received via the single wire communication line 
     
     
         9 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 2 , wherein the shared single wire communication line is connected to both the driver circuit and another driver circuit in the serial communication chain. 
     
     
         10 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 2 , wherein the LED driving output pin is further configured to output the outgoing addressing signal during the addressing mode. 
     
     
         11 . A zone integrated circuit including a driver circuit for a display device comprising:
 control logic to operate in at least an operational mode during which the control logic obtains a driver control signal and controls a driver current to an LED zone based on the driver control signal, and the control logic further receives commands and outputs readback data responsive to the commands;   an LED driving output pin to drive the driver current during the operational mode;   a bidirectional dimming pin to receive the driver control signals from a shared single wire communication line and to output the readback data to the shared single wire communication line responsive to the commands;   a power pin to provide a supply voltage; and   a ground pin to provide a path to ground.   
     
     
         12 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the control logic is further configured to operate in at least an addressing mode during which the control logic obtains an incoming addressing signal, stores an address for the driver circuit based on the incoming addressing signal, and generates an outgoing addressing signal for another driver circuit in a serial communication chain based on the incoming addressing signal. 
     
     
         13 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 12 , further comprising a data input pin configured to receive the incoming addressing signal from a previous driver circuit in the serial communication chain during the addressing mode. 
     
     
         14 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 one or more LEDs of an LED zone;   wherein the one or more LEDs and the driver circuit are stacked over a substrate in an integrated package.   
     
     
         15 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the commands comprise a temperature sensing request, and wherein response to receiving the temperature sensing request, the control logic obtains and outputs a sensed temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the commands comprise a channel voltage sensing request, and wherein response to receiving the channel voltage sensing request, the control logic obtains and outputs a sensed channel voltage. 
     
     
         17 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the commands comprise a fault detection request, and wherein response to receiving the fault detection request, the control logic obtains and outputs a fault condition. 
     
     
         18 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the commands and the driver control signals are received via the shared single wire communication line. 
     
     
         19 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the shared single wire communication line is connected to both the driver circuit and another driver circuit in the serial communication chain. 
     
     
         20 . The zone integrated circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the LED driving output pin is further configured to output the outgoing addressing signal during the addressing mode.