KR100687081B1 - Apparatus and method for controlling duty ratio of led dot matrix modules - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for controlling the duty ratio of an LED(Light Emitting Diode) dot-matrix module are provided to enhance compatibility among various display modules by standardizing driving signals for the display modules. A memory(110) receives display data from the outside and stores the display data. A duty ratio setting register(124) sets one duty ratio and stores the duty ratio. A position setting register(126) sets position information of an LED dot-matrix module with respect to plural driving circuits and stores the position information. An output address generator(116) receives the duty ratio and the position information from the registers and outputs a read address, so that the display data corresponding to the duty ratio is outputted from the memory. A line selector selects a line of the LED dot-matrix module corresponding to the position information from the output address generator and outputs the display data.

Description

Duty ratio control device and method for dynamic driving of light emitting diode dot matrix module {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DUTY RATIO OF LED DOT MATRIX MODULES}

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a light emitting diode dot matrix module having a typical 16 * 16 dot matrix display;

2A and 2B are diagrams for describing a dynamic driving scheme according to the duty ratio of the 16 * 16 dot matrix display of FIG. 1;

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a light emitting diode dot matrix module according to the present invention; And

4 is a flowchart illustrating a dynamic driving procedure based on a free duty ratio of a light emitting diode dot matrix module according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: LED module 102: LED display unit

104: column line driving circuit 106: low line driving circuit

108: duty ratio control unit 110: memory

112: input port 114: output port

116: output address generator 118: low line selector

120: input address generator 122: read signal counter

124: duty ratio setting register 126: IC positioning register

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting diode dot matrix display, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a duty ratio for dynamic driving of a light emitting diode dot matrix module.

In general, an LED dot matrix module (hereinafter referred to as an LED module), which is a module product constituting a part of an electronic display unit, supplies a light emitting display element unit, a driving circuit unit for emitting a light emitting display element, and display data for determining whether to emit light to the driving circuit unit. , A control unit for controlling and the like.

LED modules, which are generally commercialized, consist of various dot matrices such as 16 * 16, 16 * 32, 24 * 24 or 32 * 32 depending on the arrangement of light emitting diodes. The method for driving the LED module is a static drive method that configures a circuit to individually drive light emission, and scans a line for a quick time by driving light emission of only some pixels at a time and sequentially driving light emission of other pixels. While being classified into a dynamic drive system that sequentially emits light. In dynamic driving method, duty ratio is changed according to the number of sequentially emitting lines, and it can be divided into 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/24 duty driving method. have.

When the duty ratio is reduced in this way, there is an advantage in that driving circuit components are saved by sharing the driving circuit, while each line emits light alternately, so that only the brightness corresponding to the corresponding duty comes out. Accordingly, the light emitting duty is selected in consideration of the density of the pixel, the required luminance level, and the like, which is why the LED module having various duty exists according to the needs of the user.

According to the various duty ratios, there is a difference in the process of inputting data, storing memory, and reading and emitting memory, and there is a difference in a signal controlling the same.

This difference in control method necessarily necessitates various models of the control device. In other words, it is difficult to standardize the control signal, which is a great burden due to the cost and time.

Referring to FIG. 1, a general LED module 10 receives a data from an LED display unit 14 having a plurality of light emitting diodes and a control device (not shown), and drives a LED IC 14 to drive the LED display unit 14 ( 12). The LED display portion 14 is provided with, for example, a 16 * 16 dot matrix display portion. The driving IC circuit 12 receives the control signals according to a specific duty ratio from the outside (that is, the control device) and drives the LED display unit 14 in a dynamic driving method that emits a plurality of lines L1 to L16.

In the dynamic driving method for driving the LED module 10, different signal systems are applied to the duty ratios as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. For example, referring to FIG. 2A, when the duty ratio of the 16 * 16 dot matrix module is 1/16, data of the first line L1 of the 16 row lines is input through one data line. After that, the first line is lighted by latching the data. The second line is lighted again by inputting and latching the data of the second line L2. In this manner, after the light is emitted to the sixteenth line L16, the process of inputting data, latching, and emitting light is repeated for a short time by repeating from L1 again. This repeats very quickly so that the human eye does not notice and there is no flickering.

In the case of the static driving method, 16 row lines are inputted at the same time or data is input by one or more row lines. At this time, since all pixels of the 16 * 16 dot matrix module are stored in the memory, read out, and emit light at the same time, the function of dividing the time with a specific duty ratio and scanning is unnecessary.

Referring back to FIG. 2B, when the duty ratio is 1/2 in the dynamic driving method, eight input lines exist and two lines should be controlled to alternately scan and emit light. Therefore, the dynamic drive type LED module has different signal systems such as control signals and data depending on the duty ratio.

An object of the present invention is to provide a duty ratio control apparatus and method for driving a light emitting diode dot matrix module in a dynamic driving scheme corresponding to various duty ratios.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a duty ratio control apparatus and method for implementing standardization of a control signal for driving a light emitting diode dot matrix module corresponding to various duty ratios.

In order to achieve the above objects, the duty ratio control apparatus of the LED dot matrix module of the present invention is characterized in that it emits light by a dynamic driving method of the same signal system corresponding to various duty ratios. As such, the duty ratio control device standardizes the signal system for driving the LED module in response to various duty ratios, thereby improving compatibility between manufacturers and products.

An apparatus for controlling a duty ratio of a light emitting diode dot matrix module according to the present invention includes a memory for receiving and storing display data from the outside; A duty ratio setting register for setting and storing one specific duty ratio; A positioning register for setting and storing respective position information of a plurality of driving circuits of the light emitting diode dot matrix module; An output address generator that receives the specific duty ratio and the position information set from the duty ratio setting register and the position setting register and generates a read address to output the display data corresponding to the duty ratio from the memory; And a line selector configured to select corresponding lines of the LED dot matrix module controlled by the driving circuit in response to the positional information from the output address generator to output the display data.

In one embodiment, the memory includes an input port for writing the display data and an output port for receiving an address for data output from the output address generator, the output port being stored in the duty ratio setting register. Outputting the display data in response to the specified duty ratio.

In another exemplary embodiment, the output address generator may sequentially receive the read signal for reading the data from the memory, in synchronization with a clock number of the read signal to read the data in response to the specific duty ratio. Generate output address and select the lines.

In this embodiment, the duty ratio control device further includes a read signal counter which receives the read signal and counts the number of clocks of the read signal and outputs the counted clock number to the output address generator.

In another embodiment, the duty ratio control device; When the display data is input from the outside, the display data is written in the memory corresponding to one duty ratio, and the display data is read out from the memory in response to the set specific duty ratio.

In another embodiment, the duty ratio control device is provided in a driving integrated circuit of the light emitting diode dot matrix module.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling in a dynamic driving scheme corresponding to various duty ratios of a light emitting diode dot matrix module.

According to this control method, a specific duty ratio and respective positional information corresponding to a plurality of driving circuits of the light emitting diode dot matrix module are set in the duty ratio setting register. Input data from the outside into the memory. When a read signal for reading the data from the memory is input, the data is read in response to the set duty ratio and the position information, and lines selected by one of the driving circuits are selected. Subsequently, the data is output to the selected lines to emit light.

In one embodiment, the selection is repeated according to the set duty ratio.

The embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by the embodiments described below. These examples are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the shape of the components in the drawings, etc. have been exaggerated to emphasize a more clear description.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a light emitting diode dot matrix module according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the LED dot matrix module 100 includes a duty ratio control device 108 for a dynamic driving method between the LED display 102 and a controller (not shown). The duty ratio control device 108 is provided in the driving IC circuit of the LED module 100.

The duty ratio control device 108 sets the desired duty ratio among various duty ratios in the internal register 124 and drives the LED display unit 102 in response to the set duty ratio, thereby allowing the same from the outside (for example, the controller). It handles the control according to the duty ratio.

Therefore, the duty ratio control apparatus 108 of the present invention sets and stores the duty ratio in order to solve the problem that it is difficult to standardize the control signal as different control signals are required for each type of duty ratio according to the prior art. By controlling the display to emit light using the set duty ratio, the LED module 100 of any duty ratio is processed with the same control signal.

Specifically, the duty ratio control apparatus 108 includes a memory 110 for storing display data, input / output address generators 120 and 116 for data writing / reading, a read signal counter 122, and a duty Non-setting register 124, IC positioning register 126 and rowline selector 118.

The memory 110 includes dual ports 112 and 114 to simultaneously perform data input and output, and receives address information from the input or output address generator 120 or 116 for data write reading and receiving from an external input port ( Data INPUT is input to 112, and data OUTPUT is output to the column line driving circuit 104 through the output port 114. That is, when the data INPUT is input through the input port 112 and the address ADDR is input to the input address generator 120 from the outside, the memory 110 writes the data to the corresponding address position of the memory 110. Save it. When the read signal READ is input to the read signal counter 122 from the outside, the output address generator 116 may output a specific duty ratio and LED module (set from the duty ratio setting register 124 and the IC position setting register 126). The column line driver circuit 100 receives the setting information on the position of one driver IC from the memory 110 and reads data from the memory 110 according to the read address and the set duty ratio to display the data OUTPUT through the output port 114. Output to (104).

The read signal counter 122 counters the clock of the read signal READ to sequentially and / or repeat the data read operation according to the dynamic driving method in response to the set duty ratio in response to the read signal READ. To the output address generator 116.

The duty ratio setting register 124 is set such that a specific duty ratio is written from the outside (for example, a write program or a control device). For example, it is set to 1/16 duty ratio, 1/8 duty ratio, 1/2 duty ratio, and the like.

The IC position setting register 126 sets and stores an IC position so that the LED module 100 selects and outputs a driving IC circuit of a specific position from the outside (for example, a write program or a control device).

The row line selector 118 receives a duty ratio and position information set from the output address generator 116 to output data stored in the memory 110, selects a row line to which data is output, and selects at least one selected display row line. Is output to the low-line driving circuit 106.

The output address generator 116 receives the information from the read signal counter 122, the IC positioning register 126 and the duty ratio setting register 124, and outputs the read address to the output port 114 of the memory 110. The low line selector 118 outputs the selected low line to display the read data.

First, in the duty ratio control apparatus 108 according to the present invention, the input and output ports 112 and 114 of the memory 110 operate independently. That is, the input port 112 writes data to the memory 110 by unifying one control signal method, and the output port 114 outputs the output address generator 116 according to the duty ratio of the LED module 110. Changed and works on.

For example, input port 112 is a 1/16 duty of a 16 * 16 dot matrix module to unify in a dynamic drive scheme. That is, after inputting 16 dot data of one row line using one data signal line, a line address is designated and the display data of the first row line is stored in the memory 110. Repeating this operation 16 times to input and store data up to the last 16 low lines, data input to one LED module 100 of one frame is completed. These operations are processed in the same order irrespective of the displayed light emission duty ratio to input, store and repeat the data of the next frame.

Therefore, the memory 110 receives and stores 16 lines of data by 16 dots of one line through the input port 112, and outputs display data to the outside through the output port 114. The output port 114 reads the data stored in the memory 110 and outputs the data to the column line and row line driving circuits 104 and 106 of the LED display unit 102. At this time, since the unit for reading and displaying is one row line, data of 16 dots are simultaneously read and then output to the column line driving circuit 104 of the LED display unit 102. By sequentially reading and outputting the lines one by one, the screens of all the LED modules 100 are emitted and displayed. Therefore, this processing procedure is repeatedly iterated to feel that the entire screen is simultaneously displayed by the afterimage effect of the eyes.

The READ signal here determines which lines should be read and displayed independently of the data input. For example, when a read signal is input, data of one line is read and output from the memory 110 to display the LED display unit 102, and the next read signal is changed to read and output data of the next line. Therefore, when the read signal is periodically repeated, the LED module 100 repeatedly displays the line while changing the line.

If the set duty ratio is a 1/16 duty ratio, an order of sequentially inputting data or an order of sequentially outputting data may be processed in a similar fashion, although the process may be performed independently. However, if the duty ratio of the duty ratio setting register 124 is changed, the data input is the same as the case of 1/16 duty ratio, but the data output is processed corresponding to the set duty ratio. For example, when the changed duty ratio is 1/8, only eight lines should be read sequentially, and then the same eight lines should be read again. Even when the duty ratio is 1/4, the order of reading four lines is repeated four times.

As described above, since the number of row lines to be read corresponding to the set duty ratio is different, the data reading and outputting process repeatedly reads and outputs data for at least one row line corresponding to the set duty ratio. do.

In addition, in the dynamic driving method, it is necessary to check which row line to which row line of the entire driving ICs of the LED module 100 drives. Therefore, by informing the position of the driver IC from the outside, the driver IC can display the lines corresponding to its position. For this purpose, the IC positioning register 126 sets and stores information (eg, 4-bit code) on the position of the driving IC from the outside. For example, if the set duty ratio is a duty ratio of 1/4, four driving ICs repeatedly display 1 to 4 lines, 5 to 8 lines, 9 to 12 lines, or 13 to 16 lines, respectively, and each of the driving ICs. Drives to repeatedly output the corresponding lines through the IC positioning information corresponding to their position order.

As described above, in the LED module 100 of the present invention, data input is controlled according to a single duty ratio (for example, 1/16 duty ratio, etc.), and data output is controlled corresponding to the set duty ratio.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a duty ratio control procedure for dynamic driving of the LED dot matrix module according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in operation S150, a specific duty ratio is input to and stored in the duty ratio setting register 124. When data is input through the input port 112 of the memory 110 from the outside in step S152, the address input from the outside in step S154 is received from the input address generator 120 and stored in the input address location of the memory 110. .

Data is output in correspondence with the duty ratio set in step S156 and to the driving IC of the IC positioning register 126. At this time, when the read signal READ is input from the read signal counter 122 and the read address is output from the output address generator 116 to the output port 114 of the memory 110, the data of the corresponding read address position is output. The read through the output port 114 and outputs to the column line driving circuit 104. The output line generator 116 outputs the row line selector 118 to select a row line to be displayed.

Subsequently, in step S158, the LEDs of the row and column lines are displayed in the dynamic driving manner in response to the set duty ratio by the corresponding driving IC.

In the above, the configuration and operation of the duty ratio control apparatus for the dynamic driving of the LED dot matrix module according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but this is only described by way of example, the various duty ratio of the present invention Correspondingly, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea of using the same control signal system.

As described above, the duty ratio control apparatus of the present invention changes the control signals according to different duty ratios by driving the LED modules in the same scheme of control without changing the data transmission order and control signals in response to various duty ratios. The problem of the prior art should be solved.

In addition, the duty ratio control apparatus of the present invention implements standardization of a signal for driving the LED module in response to various duty ratios, thereby improving compatibility between manufacturers and products and providing user convenience.

In addition, the present invention has a variety of cost and development by embedding a drive control circuit in the drive IC circuit that can be used to drive a variety of duty ratio as a single control signal method to be controlled by a standardized signal from any LED module The effect of shortening the period or the like can be obtained.

Claims (8)

In the duty ratio control device of the light emitting diode dot matrix module: A memory for receiving and storing display data from the outside; A duty ratio setting register for setting and storing one specific duty ratio; A positioning register for setting and storing respective position information of a plurality of driving circuits of the light emitting diode dot matrix module; An output address generator that receives the specific duty ratio and the position information set from the duty ratio setting register and the position setting register and generates a read address to output the display data corresponding to the duty ratio from the memory; And a line selector configured to select corresponding lines of the light emitting diode dot matrix module controlled by the driving circuit in response to the positional information from the output address generator to output the display data. The method of claim 1, The memory includes an input port for writing the display data and an output port for receiving an address for data output from the output address generator, And the output port outputs the display data corresponding to the specific duty ratio stored in the duty ratio setting register. The method according to claim 1 or 2, When the read signal for reading the data from the memory is input, the output address generator sequentially generates the output address and the line in synchronization with a clock number of the read signal to read the data in response to the specific duty ratio. Duty ratio control device, characterized in that for selecting the. The method of claim 3, wherein And the duty ratio control device further comprises a read signal counter which receives the read signal and counts the number of clocks of the read signal and outputs the count signal to the output address generator. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The duty ratio control device is; And when the display data is input from the outside, the display data is written in the memory corresponding to one duty ratio, and the display data is read out from the memory in response to the set specific duty ratio. The method of claim 1, And the duty ratio control device is provided in a driving integrated circuit of the light emitting diode dot matrix module. In the method for controlling the dynamic driving method corresponding to various duty ratios of the light emitting diode dot matrix module: Setting a specific duty ratio and respective position information corresponding to a plurality of driving circuits of the light emitting diode dot matrix module in a duty ratio setting register; Inputting data into the memory from the outside; Reading the data in response to the set duty ratio and the position information when a read signal for reading the data from the memory is input, and selecting lines controlled by any one of the driving circuits; And outputting the data through the selected lines to display the data. The method of claim 7, wherein And repeating the step of selecting according to the set duty ratio.

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