Low noise, high efficiency, segmented LCD drivers for ultra-low power applications in 22 nm FD-SOI

Segment LCD displays are extremely energy efficient, being the simplest form of displaying information in the sub-microamp and even sub-hundred-nanoamp range. They are an attractive solution for ultra-low power circuits that need a user interface. However, high impedance voltage supplies are particularly affected by the switching noise introduced by LCDs. In this paper, a driver topology for statically driven displays that minimizes supply noise and switching losses, implemented in a 22 nm FD-SOI technology, is presented. The proposed solution uses non-overlap MOSFET drivers and a feed-forward method of discharging LCD segments before charging, improving the overall efficiency of the driver from 59.2 % to 95.2 %, when compared with a traditional implementation.