Knowledge
What is IC in LCD?
In LCD (liquid crystal display), IC (Integrated Circuit) usually refers to chip components integrated in Lcd Modules or related circuits. They are responsible for controlling and driving the display function of LCD and are one of the core components for realizing image display.
Common IC types and functions in LCD
Lcd Display system involves a variety of ICs, which are mainly divided into the following categories
- Timing control IC (TCON, Timing Controller)
Function
Generate various timing signals required by LCD panel (such as row synchronization, column synchronization, clock signal, etc.), coordinate the refresh and display rhythm of pixels in the panel.
Parse image data (such as RGB signal) from the motherboard or graphics card and convert it into a format suitable for LCD panel driving.
Location
Usually integrated on the flexible circuit board (FPC) of LCD panel, or as an independent chip located on the driver circuit board of LCD module.
- Row and column driver IC (Driver IC)
Classification and function
Column driver IC (Source Driver)
Responsible for controlling the voltage signal of each column of pixels in LCD panel, determining the brightness and color of pixels (by controlling the deflection angle of liquid crystal molecules).
Row driver IC (Gate Driver)
Activates pixel rows in the LCD panel row by row, and works with column driver IC to refresh the entire screen image.
Features
This type of IC is usually directly bound to the edge of the glass substrate of the LCD panel and connected to the pixel electrodes in the panel through pins.
High-end LCDs (such as high resolution or OLED) may require driver ICs with more channels to improve display accuracy.
- Power Management IC (PMIC, Power Management Integrated Circuit)
Function
Provides stable power supply voltage (such as logic voltage, drive voltage, etc.) for the LCD module, and is responsible for power distribution and conversion (such as DC-DC conversion, LDO voltage regulation).
Manage the power consumption of the LCD, such as reducing the voltage in standby mode to save power.
Location
Usually located on the driver circuit board of the LCD module, close to the power input interface.
- Embedded Controller IC (EC)
Function
In smart LCD devices (such as monitors and TVs), EC is responsible for processing user input (such as buttons and remote control signals) and coordinating the communication between LCD and other components such as the motherboard and sensors.
Some ECs also integrate firmware to store LCD configuration parameters (such as resolution and refresh rate) and initialization procedures.
Location
Generally located on the main control circuit board of the LCD module.
- Other auxiliary ICs
Gamma correction IC
Adjust the brightness and contrast curves of the LCD to ensure the accuracy of color reproduction (common in professional display devices).
Analog-to-digital conversion IC (ADCDAC)
Convert analog image signals into digital signals (or vice versa) to adapt to the input requirements of different signal sources.
Interface conversion IC
Such as HDMI to LVDS, USB to SPI and other chips, used to be compatible with different types of image transmission interfaces.
Importance of IC in LCD
The core of display quality The accuracy of driver IC directly affects the response speed, color uniformity and resolution of pixels (such as 4K, 8K LCD requires high-density driver IC channels).
System stability Power management IC and timing control IC ensure that LCD works stably under different voltage and signal environments to avoid flickering or display abnormalities.
Intelligent integration Modern LCDs tend to integrate more functions into ICs (such as touch control, adaptive brightness adjustment), reduce external components and improve reliability.
Summary
The IC in LCD is the brain and nerve center for image display. Different types of ICs perform their duties and jointly complete tasks such as signal processing, pixel driving, and power management. With the development of display technology (such as Mini LED, Micro LED), the integration and performance of ICs are also constantly improving to support the display needs of higher picture quality and lower power consumption.