ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION FOR PIXELLATED ELECTRONIC DEVICE

摘要

An electronic device (10) comprises an array of pixels (12), arranged in rows and columns (14,16) with row and column address lines (18,20) for addressing each pixel (12). Each row and column address line is connected to two discharge lines (30,32) through a discharge circuit (38). The circuit allows the passage of charge between the address line and the first discharge line (30) when the address line is at a potential below that of the first discharge line, and allows the passage of charge between the address line and the second discharge line (32) when the address line is at a potential above that of the second discharge line. This provides electrostatic discharge protection against an increase or decrease in voltage on the row or column address lines during manufacture of the device. By providing suitable voltages on the two discharge lines during operation of the manufactured device, it is possible to prevent the discharge circuit from operating, thereby saving power.