Detecting breakage in a display element

• US 10,037,722 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Trock, Adam S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Astacio-Oquendo, Giovanni
• Application Number:
  US14/931,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 324500, 324537, 324549
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0426 Layout of electrodes and connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

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.

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.

2. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is located outside the viewable display area.

3. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the display element further comprises a plurality of electrical address lines to control activation of the pixel elements, the electrical address lines traversing a non-viewable area located between the array of pixel elements and the display controller; and

a portion of the conductive trace is arranged overlying the non-viewable area.

4. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit measures electrical current flowing in the conductive trace during a diagnostic health check operation of the host electronic device.

5. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, the conductive trace having a first end corresponding to a ground voltage of the host electronic device, and having a second end coupled to a pull-up resistor via a switch.

6. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display element comprises a plurality of transistors formed overlying the substrate.

7. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit is implemented in a host controller of the host electronic device.

8. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conductive trace is located between columns of the pixel elements.

9. The electronic display apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conductive trace is located between rows of the pixel elements.

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.

11. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive trace is located outside the viewable display area.

12. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the display element further comprises a plurality of electrical address lines to control activation of the pixel elements, the electrical address lines traversing a non-viewable area located between the array of pixel elements and the display controller; and

a portion of the conductive trace is arranged overlying the non-viewable area.

13. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detection circuit measures electrical current flowing in the conductive trace during a diagnostic health check operation of the host electronic device.

14. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detection circuit is implemented in a host controller of the host electronic device.

15. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the conductive trace is located between columns of the pixel elements.

16. The electronic display apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the conductive trace is located between rows of the pixel elements.