Flat panel device and display driver with on/off power controller used to prevent damage to the LCD

Abstract

Signal management control units 47 1 -47 n of respective scan drivers LSI in an LCD module are cascade-connected and each have the same construction. A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47 J is a data signal latch clock LP applied to a terminal CKB 1 . A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47 2 is a frame start signal SP applied to a terminal CKB 2 . A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47 n is an AC-transforming clock FR applied to a terminal CKBn. The signal management control unit 47 1 includes a signal stop detection circuit 48 serving as a signal detection means for detecting a stop of the detected signal and a sequence processing circuit 51 consisting of a signal delay circuit 49 and a logic circuit 50 . When stopping oscillations of, e. g., the frame start signal SP, outputs T 1 -T n of the circuit 51 change to an L level. Hence, a display-off signal DF of the LCD module assumes the L level. A liquid crystal panel is forcibly set in a display-off mode. As a result, even if the frame start signal SP is stopped due to some cause, a liquid crystal application voltage is set down to zero. It is, therefore, possible to avoid a liquid crystal DC drive and prevent a deterioration of the liquid crystal.

1. A method of controlling a flat display unit comprising a flat display panel driven in accordance with display driving voltages, display driver means for selecting the display driving voltages supplied to the flat display panel and a display power source circuit for supplying the display driving voltages to the display driver means in response to a power control signal, the method of controlling the flat display unit comprising the steps of:
 detecting a logic power voltage activating a logic circuit of the flat display unit by the display driver means;    supplying the power control signal from the display driver means to the power source circuit, said power control signal having a delay time after the detection of said logic power voltage;    supplying the display driving voltages to the display driver means in response to the power control signal by the power source circuit; and    selecting the display driving voltages supplied from the power source circuit to the flat display panel by the display driver means.    
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of supplying a start signal controlling a start of display to the display driver means after supplying the display driving voltages to the display driver means. 
     
     
       3. A method of controlling a flat display device comprising a flat display panel module unit and a display control unit for supplying control signals to control display of the flat display panel module unit, said flat display panel module unit including a flat display panel driven in accordance with display driving voltages, display driver means for selecting the display driving voltages to the flat display panel and a display power source circuit for supplying the display driving voltages to the display driver means in response to a power control signal, the method of controlling the flat display unit comprising the steps of:
 supplying the power control signal to the power source circuit by the display driver means, the power control signal having a delay time after a logic power voltage has been supplied to a logic circuit of the flat display device;    supplying the display driving voltages to the display driver means in response to the power control signal by the power source circuit;    supplying a display start signal controlling a start of the selection of the display driving voltages by the display driver means in response to the control signal supplied from the display control unit, said display start signal having a delay time after the power control signal has supplied to the power source circuit; and    selecting the display driving voltages supplied from the power source circuit to supply to the flat display panel in response to the display start signal.    
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the flat display panel module unit is arranged separately from the display control unit. 
     
     
       5. A flat display unit comprising:
 a flat display panel for being driven in accordance with display driving voltages;    display driver means for selecting the display driving voltages supplied to said flat display panel, said display driver means comprising a logic circuit and a detection means for detecting a logic power voltage, activating said logic circuit and for supplying a power control signal having a delay time after the detection of the logic power voltage; and    a display power source circuit for supplying the display driving voltages to said display driver means in response to the power control signal.    
     
     
       6. A flat display device comprising a flat display panel module unit and a display control unit for supplying control signals to control display of the flat display panel module unit,
 said flat display panel module unit comprising: 
 a flat display panel driven in accordance with display driving voltages;  
 display driver means for selecting the display driving voltages supplied to said flat display panel and for supplying a power control signal having a delay time after a logic power voltage has been supplied to a logic circuit of said display driver means; and  
 a display power source circuit for supplying the display driving voltages to said display driving means in response to the power control signal,  
 wherein said display driver means starts the selection of the display driving voltages in response to a display start signal having a delay time after the power control signal has supplied to said power source circuit.  
   
     
     
       7. A method of controlling a display apparatus comprising a display control device, a display device that is driven by a display driving voltage, a display device driver unit that selects the display driving voltage that is to be supplied to the display device, and a display device power supply that supplies the display driving voltage to the display device driver unit in response to a power control signal, the method comprising:
   a first step of supplying a logic power source voltage to the display control device;        a second step of supplying a forced blank display signal to the display device driver unit;        a third step of supplying the power control signal to control power - on of the display device power supply;        a fourth step of supplying the display driving voltage to the display device driver unit from the display device power supply in response to the power control signal;        a fifth step of supplying to the display device driver unit a start signal to control start of causing a display on the display device; and        a sixth step of selecting by the display device driver the display driving voltage that is supplied to the display device;        wherein the method advances to the third step after at least a first delay time has elapsed following the second step.     
     
     
       8. A display control device that controls a display power source circuit (   28   )  that supplies display driving voltages to a display device  (   22   )  to show a display, comprising:      a display controller  (   12   )  that is responsive to the supply of a logic power source voltage  ( Vcc )  to output a forced blank display signal  ( /DFF )  as active  ( t 0   ) , and to output the forced blank display signal  ( /DFF )  as non - active after the elapse of a first delay time  ( t 1   )  subsequent to the supply of the logic power source voltage; and        a display device driving circuit  (   76   )  that receives the forced blank display signal and display data and drives the display device in response to the received forced blank display signal and display data, the display device driving circuit selecting and supplying to the display device a potential  ( V 5   )  for presenting a blank display in response to the forced blank display signal  ( /DFF )  being active, and      then, after a second delay time has elapsed  ( t 3   )  following the blank display signal having turned from active to non - active  ( t 1   ) , the display device driving circuit outputs a display power supply control signal  ( /POFF )  that initiates the display power supply circuit  (   28   )  to start power supply output, and        then, after the elapse of a third delay time  ( t 4   )  following the output of the display power supply control signal  ( /POFF ) , the display device driving circuit selects and supplies to the display device predetermined display driving voltages that are output by the display power source circuit based on display data.