DETECTING BREAKAGE IN A DISPLAY ELEMENT
First Claim
1. An electronic display apparatus for a host electronic device, the electronic display apparatus comprising:
- a display element comprising an array of pixel elements formed overlying a substrate and arranged to define a viewable display area;
a display controller coupled to control activation of the array of pixel elements, the display controller formed overlying the substrate; and
a conductive trace formed overlying the substrate and arranged to bypass the display controller in a layout that does not interfere with visibility of the array of pixel elements, wherein detection of an electrical discontinuity in the conductive trace is indicative of a failure mode of the display element, and wherein integrity of the conductive trace is monitored by a detection circuit associated with the host electronic device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed subject matter relates to diagnostic procedures and related device architectures that check the operating health of a display element of a host electronic device. In certain embodiments, a display apparatus for an electronic device includes a display element, a display controller, a conductive trace, and a detection circuit. The display element has an array of pixel elements formed overlying a substrate and arranged to define a viewable display area. The display controller is coupled to control activation of the array of pixel elements. The conductive trace is formed overlying the substrate and is arranged to bypass the display controller in a layout that does not interfere with visibility of the pixel elements. The detection circuit is coupled to the conductive trace, and it operates to check electrical continuity of the conductive trace to obtain an indication of health of the display element.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An electronic display apparatus for a host electronic device, the electronic display apparatus comprising:
-
a display element comprising an array of pixel elements formed overlying a substrate and arranged to define a viewable display area; a display controller coupled to control activation of the array of pixel elements, the display controller formed overlying the substrate; and a conductive trace formed overlying the substrate and arranged to bypass the display controller in a layout that does not interfere with visibility of the array of pixel elements, wherein detection of an electrical discontinuity in the conductive trace is indicative of a failure mode of the display element, and wherein integrity of the conductive trace is monitored by a detection circuit associated with the host electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An electronic display apparatus for a host electronic device, the electronic display apparatus comprising:
-
a display element comprising an array of pixel elements formed overlying a substrate and arranged to define a viewable display area; a display controller coupled to control activation of the array of pixel elements, the display controller formed overlying the substrate; a conductive trace formed overlying the substrate and arranged to bypass the display controller in a layout that does not interfere with visibility of the array of pixel elements; and a detection circuit coupled to the conductive trace, wherein the detection circuit operates to check electrical continuity of the conductive trace to obtain an indication of health of the display element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of checking health of an electronic display apparatus of a host electronic device, the electronic display apparatus comprising an array of pixel elements formed overlying a substrate, a display controller coupled to control activation of the array of pixel elements, the display controller formed overlying the substrate, and a conductive trace formed overlying the substrate and arranged to bypass the display controller in a layout that does not interfere with visibility of the array of pixel elements, the method comprising:
-
entering a diagnostic health check mode for the host electronic device; testing electrical continuity of the conductive trace during the diagnostic health check mode to obtain a continuity status; and when the continuity status indicates an electrical discontinuity in the conductive trace, generating an alert for a user of the host electronic device, the alert indicating that the electronic display apparatus requires service. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification