| 摘要 |
A large-area electronic device comprises an array (1) of device elements (2,3) coupled to row and column conductors (A and B). The column conductors (B) are arranged in groups, (e.g M, M+1, M+2), and a column multiplexer circuit (C) couples the column conductors (B) of a respective group to a respective common terminal (5). The present invention provides a compatible multiplexer circuit (C) for the array (1), the operation of the circuit (C) using electrical switching rather than optical switching. This multiplexer circuit (C) for each column conductor comprises a diode bridge (SD3 to SD6) and may include a clamping switch (SD1, SD2). A signal is transmitted between the column conductor (B) and a common output terminal (5) in a first state of the diode bridge (SD3 to SD6). The potential of the column conductor (B) is clamped by the clamping switch (SD1, SD2) in a second state of the diode bridge. Each arm (11,12) of the bridge comprises a respective pair of diodes (SD3, SD4), (SD5, SD6) having the same polarity as each other between two current sources (21,22). The respective column conductor (B) is coupled to the diode node (13) of the first arm (11). The common terminal (5) is coupled to the diode node (14) of the second arm (12). Control lines (16,17) apply switching voltages (Vx, Vy) for switching the clamping switch (SD1, SD2) and bridge (SD3 to SD6). Such multiplexer circuits (C) in accordance with the present invention can readily be constructed with the same technology type(s) of circuit elements (e.g. thin-film diodes or diode-connected thin-film transistors) for the bridge and clamping switch as used for the device elements of the array (1). The invention also provides a control method which reduces the peak current flowing in the diode bridge. |
