TV Main Board LCD Power Faults Damon Morrow .Ing

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LCD TV Main Board Power Faults

Main Board Power Voltage Faults HandBook
For Professional Technicians and Advanced Students
Brought to you by Damon Morrow
http://www.PlasmaTVRepairGuide.com
LCD TV Repair Secrets Guide
LCD TV SMPS Repair

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Content
1 Quick Notes 5
2 Introduction 6
3 Main Board Basics 7
4 Main Board Systematic Voltage 9

9
4.1-Why is 3.3V and 5V Systematic Voltage Important?
5 LDO Regulators 13
5.1- What Does Low Dropout Voltage Mean? 13
5.2- Basic LDO Schematic 14
5.3- LDO Load regulation (Main Digital Board) 15
6 Buck Converter IC's 17

6.1- Pulse Width Modulation 18
6.2- Discontinuous Mode & Continuous Mode 19
6.3- What Does Freewheel Mean? 20
6.4- Basic Cascade and Freewheel Components 21
7 DDR Termination IC 32
7.1- What is DDR Termination? 33
7.2- DDR Basic Pin Definitions 36
8 Conclusion 39
9 Circuit Glossary Of Terms 40

10 Recommended Resources 54

1) Quick Notes
LCD TV Main Board Secrets and LCD Main Board Power Voltage
Faults
For Professional Technicians Or Advanced Technicians
In this handbook we will cover a few random secrets concerning voltage supply faults
on LCD TV main-boards. The faults covered in this handbook are related to supplying
the proper voltage to various areas of the main-board. This handbook assumes the SMPS
board is functioning properly and voltage supply errors are rooting from the power
section of the main-board. This handbook will also cover main-board System Voltages,
specifically 3.3V and 5V rails and different design methods engineers use when
implementing a new main-board portfolio. This includes bad designs proven to fail and
improvements made to guarantee better circuit performance.
There are 3 IC chips with-in the main-boards power sections that are known to develop
internal errors causing the main-board to default into systematic shutdown. We will
cover these 3 IC chips and how they all work together in maintaining and supplying
proper voltages, system voltages, and how they have failed with-in the main-board. The
fault symptoms these 3 chips cause along with errors in system voltages are as follows:
TV will not come out of Stand-By mode

System Voltage/Op-Amps & LDO's
TV turns on then shuts down

Buck converter IC's
TV intermittently shuts its self down

DDR Termination Regulator IC
This handbook assumes that the reader(s) are professional electronics technicians who
have full knowledge of circuit fundamentals and a solid education in using various test
equipment. This handbook does not teach about electronic circuits or how to use test
equipment. This handbook is intended for experienced professional TV technicians
looking to service a few voltage supply problems with-in LCD TV main-boards.
Information in these pages are general and does not pertain to a specific model of LCD
TV but rather a fair range of LCD TV main-board design revisions manufactured
between 2005-2011. Keep in mind this handbook is about main-board internal power
faults, and assumes the LCD TV power board (SMPS) is functioning properly.

2) Introduction
This handbook briefly covers three, 8-pin IC chips on LCD TV main-boards which fail
quite often and will require a digital oscilloscope and a good DV meter to troubleshoot
properly. Servicing main-boards simply involve using digital scopes, good soldering and
desoldering skills to remove and replace fine pitched SMD IC's and SMD components.
Different technicians have various levels of electronics education and servicing
experience, some technicians service LCD TV's at component level while other
technicians service LCD TV's by replacing boards (board-level-tech). Servicing LCD
TV's at component level is always the most profitable way to repair LCD TV's but many
times technicians have difficulty in replacing small SMD parts on main-boards.
Removing and replacing SMD components on main-boards simply require some

practice, some technicians use cellular phone circuitry to perfect there SMD soldering
and desoldering skills. Other technicians use old main-boards (no longer in use) to gain
better SMD soldering techniques. In some servicing cases technicians sometime have a
hard time finding the IC they need or they are required to purchase 100+ IC's from a
particular parts vendor, and this is the down side to component level repair. The IC chips
covered in these pages are usually available from multiple IC chip vendors. Some
technicians gather a group of various main-boards and strip off the IC's in which they
will use for other main-board repair.
There are IC's such as HexFet chips (and others) in which a technician can remove from
a plasma TV main-board and use it to replace a HexFet on an LCD TV main-board. Any
TV technician who has many expendable main-boards piled up should strip off all the 8-
pin converter/buck IC's and switching IC's which fail often and are interchangeable
between plasma TV main-boards and LCD TV main-boards. Other IC's such as
EEPROMS, Flash-ROM's, Expander IC's (and others) are application specific and are
not interchangeable. There are many online video's which demonstrate how to remove
and replace SMD/BGA IC chips and SMD fine pitched components, I would highly
encourage this interactive method of learning different soldering and desoldering
techniques of SMD components and BGA/PGA IC's. This handbook simply points out
what area the of the main-board the technician should start troubleshooting, in relation to
supply voltage faults with-in the main-boards power supply section. This handbook
assumes the reader has all proper soldering and desoldering skills and techniques to
remove and replace components and IC chip semiconductors on main-boards properly.
So without any further due lets get started

6

3) Main Board Basics

Fig1A illustrates a basic layout of an LCD TV main board, Fig2A illustrates the
category of IC chip semiconductors mounted on a typical LCD TV main board. Fig3A
illustrates the basic SMD components, caps, connectors etc, just to keep familiar with a
typical main board setup. However Fig4A will be the area of focus in this handbook,
which is the power supply section of the main board.


4) Main Board Systematic Voltage

Before we cover the 3 IC's known for causing main-board voltage problems lets first
cover a very popular problem with main-boards which are System Voltages with-in the
main-boards systematic voltage network. These voltages are 3.3V and 5V and are also
shared by the T-con board as well as the main-boards central core processor and
detection/feedback circuitry. Before we get into the problems these voltages cause when
they change or drop in their regulated value lets first understand what they are, and why
engineers have used them (including design tricks) and what industry changes and
improvements have already been implemented since 2010.
4.1) Why is 3.3V and 5V Systematic Voltage Important?
Core processor chip sets (microcontrollers) and logic families on LCD TV main-boards
that operate from 3.3V supplies (verses 5V supply) are receiving wide range acceptance
in LCD TV main-board design and implementation protocol. In the LCD TV
engineering industry there’s an ever increasing need and desire for faster processing
speeds. Because of this need and desire for faster processing speeds there is naturally an
on going reduction in the physical size of the transistors used in the construction of
modern microcontrollers (core processors). Up scaling modern integration along with
reduced costs also fuels the need for smaller geometries (design algorithms). But, with
reduced physical size of the embedded transistors will result in a decline of the
transistors breakdown voltage.
When the breakdown voltage drops below the supply voltage, this drop will reciprocally
affect the supply voltage as well, causing it to drop. The bottom line here is that
processor speeds for LCD TV main boards are ever increasing so the complexity is
building up, so consequently its inevitable that main board supply voltages drop from
5V to 3.3V and in some high density configurations the supply voltage can drop to 1.7V
as well. The problem with many main boards are engineers trying to implement and
interface 5V and 3.3V systems together (called a sub-system), and as a result it causes
breakdown voltage problems. This is when the LCD TV will turn fully on then shut right
back down again (STB) or will not turn fully on at all.
There are many microcontroller manufacturers who make core processors for LCD TV
video production who have achieved an adequate level of speed and complexity and
now these manufactures are also transitioning to sub-5V voltage supplies for modern
LCD TV main boards.

In fact, there are so many logical reasons for microcontroller engineers to implement
3.3V systems with such fine geometries that 5V is simply not allowed anymore in
imbedded digital systems for LCD TV main boards. Soon all TV technicians will no
longer see any 5V rails or 5V-Stand-By in newer LCD TV main board systematic
voltages (especially LED LCD TV's). The introduction of the new 3.3V or 3V standard
used as a supply voltage has been widely used in various design activities for digital
systematic voltages on LCD TV main boards.
But often, there’s a incremental transition from 5V to 3.3V or 3V sub-systems simply

because sometime there are components required that are not available to adopt in a
particular design protocol. Another reason for gradual transition from 5V to 3.3V or 3V
is that a system can be so complex that 3.3V or 3V is only introduced as part of the
digital system. The headache in which LCD TV engineers face is that most (if not all)
the interface circuitry is still configured for 5V supply voltages.
So now main board engineers are faced with the excruciating task of interfacing 3.3V
and 5V systems which also include the translation of logic levels along with powering
the 3.3V systems then translating analog signals all across the 3.3V and 5V hurdle
(barrier).
Next page in Fig B1 are just a couple of schematic examples of how main board
engineers try to tackle a reliable 3.3V output from a 5V input source or reference voltage
using a simple Op-Amp or Low Voltage Dropout Regulator (LDO) configured as a
Comp-Translator circuit (basic design trick). This example circuit is usually found near
the SMPS input area (power supply section) of the main board, where the SMPS
delivers the 5V to the main boards input (5V input to Op-Amp and steady 3.3V output).
But first, lets quickly refresh on what a basic voltage regulator is in Fig 5A. Voltage
regulators (Op-Amps) simply convert an applied input voltage to a fixed (regulated) or
variable (adjustable) voltage output source. Generally a regulated Reference Voltage is
connected to the non-inverting input of the voltage regulator (Op-Amp). The reference
voltage is then amplified according to the ratio of the feedback loop and the input
resistors, which is the gain. If either one of the resistors (R1/R2) are a potentiometer the
output of the Op-Amp (V-out) can be adjusted from Vref to +voltage which is the Op-
Amps supply voltage.
Usually IC chip regulators will have extra transistors to offer a voltage reference and
also permits the regulator IC the ability to drive high power loads in which a single Op-
Amp cannot do alone. Also in Fig 5A is a basic example of the inverting and non-
inverting Op-amp, where the polarity of the input voltage is applied to the inverting
10

input of the Op-Amp and is then reversed at the Op-Amps regulated output source. The
inverting input is negative as the non-inverting input is positive.
FigB1 Illustrates known (and tricky) Op-Amp comparator configurations on LCD TV main boards.
11

12

5) LDO Regulators
Below in Fig6A is a basic illustration of regulators found on many LCD TV main boards.
5.1 What Does Low Dropout Voltage Mean?
The voltage dropout is the I/O differential voltage in which the circuit stops regulating in
order to oppose any additional declines with-in the input voltage. That action happens
when the input voltage moves toward the output voltage. Fig7A (example A) illustrates
a basic schematic of an LDO regulator circuit. As observed in the dropout region the
filter element is a resistor (pass resistor 'R') and the value of the voltage dropout is
calculated according to its on-resistance (Ron). Example B in Fig7A illustrates the I/O of
a typical 3.3V LDO regulator.
This LDO's dropout voltage is 350 mV @1000mA and typically this regulator starts
dropping out at an input of 3.60V so approximately the span of the dropout region (at
the input) is between 2V and 3.60. Any further decline in the dropout voltage will cause
the LDO to not function. A common problem with many LDO's on main boards is the
ability to stay with-in its dropout region without further decline, and its important to
check the value of the SMD 'pass-resistor' before or after testing an LDO, especially for
LCD TV main boards that are 5+ years old (2008-2013). In order to maximize regulator
efficiency, low dropout voltage is necessary and critical.
13

5.2 Basic LDO Schematic
14

5.3 LDO Load regulation (Main Digital Board)
LDO Load regulation in Fig8A is a measurement of the circuits capability to keep the
intended output voltage while it is under load conditions that vary quite often on LCD
TV main boards. LDO load regulation faults on main boards sometime occur when the
transition of load current fluctuates between 0 and its maximum rated value (0-200mA)
and vise-versa at an improper timing scale (mS) which can result in an unintended
output indicating an LDO internal fault, this can keep the main board in stand-by mode
(healthy timing is around 80mS-120mS).
When most professional technicians suspect an LDO load regulation problem on the
main board, its known to just replace the LDO to save troubleshooting time. LDO output
errors on main boards can cause the TV to stay stuck in stand-by mode because of
erroneous LDO output voltage (assuming other fault possibilities have been ruled out
such as Power-Good and PS-On logic commands). Check the input to the LDO as well,
because sometimes the LDO's output fault can be due to erroneous input variations.
Input LDO faults do happen but is rare because when most high-end LDO's are made
they are tested for Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR).
PSRR (also called Ripple Rejection) is the LDO's ability to stop the regulated output
voltage changing caused by faulty input variations. This is why almost all LDO output
voltage error's are caused from an internal failure with-in the LDO its self. Be sure to
check all SMD and through-hole capacitors (including bypass caps) tied to the LDO for
low ESR because they create the control-loop for the LDO and are a paramount factor in
supply rejection (this is in relation to faulty input variations too the LDO).
Intermittent LDO's (rare) have caused LCD TV main boards to skip from full-on, to
immediate full-off, then pull up into stand-by mode again. This type of intermittent LDO
main board fault symptom can be almost identical to DDR Termination failures. Since
this can be tricky and time consuming to diagnose, most technicians start by replacing
the DDR Termination IC (especially if its only 8 pins) which may be suspected, often
located around the main boards power supply area. It is more likely this kind of
intermittent fault symptom is due to DDR Termination failure, because an intermittent
LDO output is a rare discovery in this trade at component level.
Many LCD TV main boards manufactured from 2008 use linear LDO's but more modern
designs (2012+) now incorporate switching regulators because they are more energy
efficient which sharply reduces thermal conditions and don't require external capacitors
(for rejection, bypassing, loop control). Keep in mind that even new LDO's are still
linear regulators (and still inefficient in comparison) but some of the new LDO design
15

schemes give engineers a much broader range of voltage drop input options. This why
technicians will still discover a few LDO's on more recent models of LCD TV main
boards (even on higher-end main board chassis).
16

6) Buck Converter IC's

Switching Regulators
Now lets take a look at those three IC's known for causing power sustain problems on
many LCD TV main boards in Fig9A. We are going to look at two IC's first (U1 & U2)
because they are basically the same internally and have a much higher failure rate than
U3. After which then we will cover the DDR Termination IC (U3). U1 is a 20V 3A Buck
Converter IC with internal PWM control function. U2 is a 20V 2A Step-Down
Converter IC also with PWM control.
U1 & U2 both have a diode and inductor tied at the output which is critical.
Now lets gain a basic understanding of what a buck converter is by comparing it to a

boost converter. Buck means to step-down an input source to a lower output supply and
this is why U1 and U2 are basically the same IC's, and boost means to step-up an input
source to higher output supply. Buck converters (step-down) begin their voltage
conversion using a switch (p-mosfet) in the open-state so this way current cannot get
through to any section of the circuit.
When the switch is in its closed-state, current begins flowing through the inductor, the
inductor then pulls current through the diode. At the inductors output is where the
voltage is now lowered. Boost converters begin their voltage conversion with a switch in
the closed-state as current starts flowing through the inductor which forces the current to
only go through a diode serving as a one-way valve. To quickly slow the current down,
17

the voltage is increased higher at the output diode and switch. Voltage keeps the diode
open (forward biased) so current can’t flow back.
This is why inductors and diodes are so critical at the output of both buck and boost
converters, in fact they’re the first two components tested (along with the output filter
capacitor) when there's an output problem from a buck or boost IC. The absence of the
diode and inductor would mean current has only one path to the output pin and that's
directly out-of the input pin, the energy loss would dissipate as heat (linear based) and
would contradict the purpose in using a buck switching regulator.
Also there are IC's called Buck-Boost converters which is a single semiconductor IC that
steps-up and steps-down current/voltage. Main board engineers use this IC when they
need the circuit to switch DC voltage configurations above and below the voltage
needed to drive the load. However the two IC's in this handbook (U1 & U2) are both
step-down (Buck) converter IC chips, U1 has a 3A output and U2 has a 2A output. U1
and U2 are configured as a cascade circuit used for producing a constant low output
voltage from the input of the SMPS which varies over a large range depending on
current draw. The output voltage is maintained constant by varying the duty-cycle
(PWM) of the switching transistor (switch is internal to the buck IC) and the duty-cycle
is in accordance with the feedback loop
6.1 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
(PWM) is an important part of buck converters, it is an internal function with-in the

buck IC. PWM uses an internal switching circuit (with-in the buck IC) to rapidly turn
the current on and off. PWM does not increase or decrease the voltage, but the voltage
average can be lowered. PWM is applied with-in inductive voltage converter IC's (buck
or boost) because the output voltage is regulated by varying the duty cycle of a PWM
signal which is driving the input to the circuit (load). Only a buck or boost converter can
increase or decrease the maximum voltage/current, PWM can only function to lower the
average voltage/current from that momentary level.
In Fig 10A next page is a basic buck step-down converter circuit, and with this
particular circuit when the transistor turns ON it will put the voltage Vin at one end of
the inductor. This voltage will cause the inductor current to rise. When the transistor is
turned OFF the current continues to flow through the inductor except now flowing
through the diode. The current flowing through the inductor doesn't reach zero and the
voltage at Vx (V-average) is now only the voltage across the conducting diode during
Full OFF time.
18

The average voltage along Vx will depend on the average ON time of the transistor,
assuming the inductor is continuous. For a steady-state function the current at the start
and end of a period T won’t change, assuming there's no voltage drop across the
transistor or the diode while ON, and is a perfect switch change.
6.2 Discontinuous Mode & Continuous Mode

Buck converters (and boost) function in either continuous mode or discontinuous mode.
In the discontinuous mode, converters totally de-energize the output inductor before the
end of each switching cycle. There is no current present in the output inductor at the
beginning of each switching cycle in the discontinuous mode.
In the continuous mode, converters don't fully de-energize the output inductor before
the end of each switching cycle. So, the current inside the inductor never gets to a point
where there's absolutely no current in the conductor while in continuous mode.
Keep in mind that a buck converter is one type of switching voltage regulator, and there
are a few types of switching voltage regulators such as forward and fly-back converters
(among others). These different types of converters contain different properties for
various applications projects. As was mentioned in earlier pages linear voltage regulators
19

(not as efficient as switching regulators) use voltage drops across transistors to convert a
higher voltage into a lower voltage.
Buck IC's U1 & U2 in Cascade Configuration
Many buck converters on main boards are arranged to feed each other (cascade) in order
to efficiently regulate and drive one or more loads over a constant change of
voltage/current conditions. LCD TV engineers use buck cascade design because the
topology permits multiple regulated voltage outputs using a minimum number of
switching devices on the board, and avoids cross regulation difficulties as well.
A cascade buck converter configuration on LCD TV main boards comprise of a main-

buck converter (U1) and secondary buck converter (U2). U1 and U2 are coupled by a
cascade transistor (SMD) which is in series with a protective switching device called a
freewheeling diode or synchronous transistor (all SMD). Fig 11A in the next page
illustrates an example of where these components are placed.
6.3 What Does Freewheel Mean?
Most main board designers use a freewheeling diode as a protection device because it
blocks conduction in one direction and appears as a near short in the opposite direction
as the polarity alternates. In modern design schemes on main boards the freewheeling
diode is used when the load is inductive and the supply or control voltage is DC, keep in
mind buck converters (and boost) use inductive loads at the output. The freewheeling
diode(s) are put in the circuit to protect the switching devices (cascade Q1 and Q2) from
being damaged by a reverse current from an inductive load.
So the freewheeling diode(s) are commonly placed into the circuit so it does not conduct
when current is being supplied to an inductive load. When an inductor has current
coming too it that is abruptly interrupted the inductor reverses the polarity and increases
the voltage level as the inductor tries to maintain its current flow. If there's no
freewheeling diode in place the voltage can increase high enough to permanently
damage the switching cascade transistors.
By having the freewheeling diode in place the reverse current is permitted to conduct
through the diode and dissipate. The term 'Freewheeling' may have been derived from
the notion that current its self is 'freewheeling' for a brief moment inside the inductor or
diode circuit after the voltage supply is switched off.
20

Engineers using cascade topology on main boards is yet another well known technique
adopted in modern digital board design for LCD TV products. As mentioned in earlier
pages newer main board systems require more than just one operating systematic voltage
control. The new generation of IC chips requires multiple power supply voltages that are
less than 5V of DC.
The core processor IC's and logic gate IC's on main boards commonly require voltage
sources such as 5V, 3.3V, 2.9V and 1.5V DC. So engineers use cascade topology with
switching devices (buck or boost converters) as a solution in providing multiple, well
regulated low output voltages in a low cost package which also reduces component
count and production cost.
6.4 Basic Cascade and Freewheel Components
Before we start listing known main board power-control problems these two buck
converters (U1/U2) cause on main boards lets quickly go over the three switching-mode
topologies commonly used. The three topologies are Buck, Boost, and Buck-Boost,
these three topologies are non-isolated, which means the input and output voltages share
a common ground connection, however there are isolated derivations of these non-
isolated topologies, and each topology has its own unique properties such as frequency
21

response of duty cycle, and output ripple. A buck-boost converter is a well known non-
isolated inverting power stage topology sometimes use on LCD TV main boards.
Engineers sometime use a buck-boost power stage because the voltage output is inverted
from the voltage input at which the voltage output can be higher (boost power stage) or
lower (buck power stage) in magnitude than the voltage input (output polarity is
opposite of input polarity).
Buck-Boost power stage can operate in continuous or discontinuous inductor current

mode. Continuous inductor current mode means the current is continuously flowing in
the inductor during the entire switching cycle in steady-state function. Discontinuous
inductor current mode means the inductor current is at zero during each and every
switching cycle. So, it starts at zero reaches a peak value and returns to zero again
during each switching cycle. Let’s start on U1 & U2 Faults.
U1/U2 Internals & Schematic Example

U1: Fig 12A, 13A, / U2: 14A, 15A
22

Notice internal P-channel MOSFET switch at pin 4,5,6, in Fig12A/14A
23

As illustrated in Fig12A (U1) and Fig14A (U2) both IC's have the same internal
function and setup. U1 may have an added feature compared to U2 (not shown in the
illustration) such as Soft-Start because it is in direct line-regulation with the SMPS and
since both U1 and U2 have dual output ports, one of U1's outputs can be used for noise-
isolation. Notice Fig13A and Fig15A are the same except at the output, where the output
inductor at U1 is 22uH, and U2 output inductor is 33uH.
The following are simply faults that have been recorded from in-house shop records of
U1's fault failures on LCD TV main boards flowed by U2 recorded failures. After which
we will list faults found with U3 DDR terminator IC. Any internal faults with these buck
IC's require replacing the chips as well as replacing any damaged SMD components tied
to their pins.
24

General Functional Scheme Of U1 and U2 Buck Converters

Both buck converters U1 and U2 consist of a step-down switching regulator that has
PWM control. Both buck converters also include a reference voltage source, Oscillation
circuit, error amplifier, and internal P-channel Mosfet (PMOS).
Both buck IC's provide low ripple power, good efficiency and stellar transient
characteristics. The internal PWM control control function can be capable of varying the
duty ratio (in a linear style) from 0 up to 100%. Both buck converters also contain an
error-amplifier, an enable function, an over-current protection function, a short circuit
protection function which are built inside both buck IC's.
So when over-current protection (OCP) or short-circuit protection (SCP) occurs the

operation frequency of both IC's will drop from approximately 300KHz down to
approximately 30KHz. Both buck IC's also have an internal compensation block (not
shown) to help design engineers reduce component count on the main board. Again U1
may also have an added feature called Soft-Start which is an internal function that
prevents overshoot at start-up cycles.
25

Main Board U1: No Power/Shutdown
26

27

Main Board U2: Momentary Power/Shutdown

The following assume that U1and previous cascade switches Q1/Q2 are in working order.
28

Main Board U2: Momentary Power/Shutdown

The following assume that U1and previous cascade switches Q1/Q2 are in working order.
29

30

Buck IC Conclusion
In general a power-control converter uses semiconductor components to transform

power from one form (AC-DC) into another form (DC-DC). This is accomplished by
causing the circuit topology to alter by means of turning ON and OFF the semiconductor
components or devices. The two 8-pin buck converter IC's we have covered in this
handbook are a specific type of DC-DC power control buck converters in-which their
design intention is to efficiently step-down DC voltage to a lower level with good
stability output and very low output ripple. Some practical main board applications have
been illustrated in basic form along with their fault symptoms and failures according to
shop records.
Sometimes buck IC's are referred to as Chopper Chips throughout the professional TV
servicing industry. Buck IC's usually interface between the varying voltage output of a
DC load and a sensitive IC such as a Static-RAM IC or microcontroller/processor IC.
The two buck IC's (U1/U2) use Feedback control to regulate the voltage output in the
presence of varying load changes and feedback influences PWM output duty-cycle of
U1/U2. Most professional TV technicians will change both buck IC's, even if only one
has an internal fault, because replacing both chips assures no residual damage from
another connected buck IC (a known precautionary measure).
31

7) DDR Termination IC
Bus Signal Terminator
32

7.1 What is DDR Termination?
Before we briefly cover what basic DDR termination is and how U3 fails in three lets
take a brief look at how U1, U2, and U3 work together in a basic functional scheme in
Fig28A. U1 and U2 are situated in a cascade configuration as the SMPS supplies
12VDC to U1 on the main board. U1 output is stepped down to 5VDC which is
switched by Q1/Q2 cascade transistors to the input of U2. U2 takes the switched 5VDC
and steps it down to 3.3VDC output. The 3.3V output from U2 is supplied to PVin (pin
7) of U3, PVin powers the DDR IC providing the rail voltage from where the VTT
voltage (pin 8) draws its load current (shunt circuitry). The VTT output of U3 is supplied
to the termination resistors (signal dissipation) which are directly tied to the data lines (it
is vital that no noise gets on the data-lines) of DDR-SDRAM IC. Avin (pin 6) of U3 is
voltage control input for the U3's analog (linear) circuitry.
DDR Termination:
Now that we know the basic voltage relationship of U1, U2, and U3 lets cover what
DDR is (Peripheral control circuitry for U3 has been left out to keep learning simple).
One of the most important functions of an LCD TV main board (aside from power
sustain) is its ability to store extremely large quantities of data inside random access
memory (RAM) and RAM stores critical and vital memory-data that can be accessed
directly and quickly (nS) by the core processor IC. Considering the ever increased need
for higher speeds in newer LCD TV digital circuitry, having a basic intuitive
33

understanding of DDR Termination is paramount to all professional TV technicians.
LCD TV engineers are constantly pushing the design envelope to meet the demand of
larger screen LCD TV's with higher picture quality and loads of super data processing at
super high speeds. Main board engineers and LCD TV manufacturers have been
answering these demands with major breakthroughs and exponential improvements in
processor speeds. So with improved processor speeds, SDRAM memory has also made
major improvements and breakthroughs to stay current with the design requirements of
super processing speeds and demand of the industry.
Traditional SDRAM has now developed and evolved into super high-speed chip-sets
known as DDR Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM) chips. DDR-SDRAM is pretty
much the same as conventional SDRAM only now double the data-speed (Double Data
Rate) and DDR uses Stub-Series Terminated Logic (SSTL) to drive DDR memory
accurately. The processing rate is doubled by performing a data fetch on both rising-
edge and falling-edge of the clock cycle, data-termination is performed after the data-
fetch which we will cover shortly.
Doubling the data rate is a big improvement over traditional single-data-rate (SDR)
SDRAM that will perform a data fetch on just one edge of the clock cycle. In this
handbook we use traditional DDR also known as DDR1 which has a maximum clock
rate of 400MHz and a data-bus of approximately 64 bits and is adopted on older LCD
TV main boards (2004-2009) and are still used on millions of modern Low-End LCD
TV's (32in-37in). This handbook uses DDR1 to keep the learning curve of DDR bus
termination fairly easy to grasp.
High-End LCD TV Manufacturers are using DDR2/DDR3 which are basically the same
protocol as DDR1 but with higher data rates (800MHz) and some improvements such as
On-Die Termination (ODT) which means the DDR2/3-SDRAM IC has built-in data
(bus) termination which eliminates the need for external bus termination IC's such as U3
while reducing component count.
DDR1 uses 3.3V or 2.5 for core voltages as with DDR2/3 use 1.5V and 1.8V standards
for core voltages and trade rumors stating that DDR4 (2014) core voltages will be 1.2V
1.05V (lower core voltage reduces chip thermal peaks). Internal ODT in a DDR2/3-
SDRAM chip is the primary reason why DDR1-SDRAM topology are physically
incompatible with DDR2/3 topologies, however the memory fetching and data
termination protocols are similar i.e. ODT.
34

Data Termination is routing and ending a data-bus request after a fetch operand by the
core processor. When RAM data is requested from the core processor (pre-fetch data)
the memory chain has to have an END-point after the data is fetched by the core. The
end-of-chain memory is where the pre-fetch data is terminated through SMD resistors
(along with bypass capacitors), and the termination voltage (VTT) from U3 is
responsible for supplying data termination voltage rail, the VTT voltage output is 1.25V.
Memory-data must be terminated in order to avoid an unwanted phenomenon called

signal reverberations and reflections which will disturb and interfere with critical
memory cells and cause the main board of an LCD TV to shutdown intermittently (data-
skipping), or can keep the core processor in reset-mode (will not boot-up).
To get deeper into DDR memory termination would be far outside the scope of this
handbook. Now lets look into U3 DDR Termination IC and how it fails, firstly there is a
lot to gain in how DDR topology works, however troubleshooting a DDR termination IC
(U3) is fairly quick and simple. Many 8-pin DDR's simply develop a short (VTT or PVin
to GND) mainly because DDR's have an internal op-amp and two or more MOSFET
switches.
However, there are a couple of other erroneous output faults that DDR termination IC's
develop and cause the same symptom of main board intermittent shutdown (and
sometimes no boot-up). Now lets quickly examine the pins on U3 (next page) that are
vital to its operation and the faults that have developed according to shop records.
35

U3 DDR Basic Pin Definitions
Avin, PVin (6, 7,)

These two pins have the capability to function from separate power supplies (see
Fig28A) depending on if the application is series-termination or parallel-termination.
Increased voltages on the PVin pin will boost the maximum continuous output current
due to output limitations at voltages adjacent to VTT. Some main board manufacturers
tie both PVin and Avin together usually at 2.5V, this method cancels the need for board
designers to bypass the two pins separately requiring additional circuitry. Some Lower-
end LCD TV manufacturers don’t tie in the PVin rail to voltages that are equal to or less
than 3.3V and this is bad because it promotes thermal limit tripping (thermal board
shutdown).
VDDQ (5)
At this pin the VDDQ voltage is connected to dual internal resistor dividers, the central
tap of the resistor divider (VDDQ/2) is connected to the internal voltage buffer in which
its output is connected to Vref pin and the non-inverting input of the internal error
amplifier as the reference voltage.
36

V-SENSE (3)
This pin is normally used for enhanced load regulation-control but not all board
manufacturers use this pin, however V-sense must still be tied to VTT. A long bus trace
will cause a critical drop in current-reference (IR) which causes a major imbalance with
the termination voltage (VTT) being weak at one end of the bus than the other. So V-
sense is tapped into the center of the bus trace this enhances DDR function because
tapping V-sense into the center of the bus trace broadens distribution of the termination
bus signal. The V-sense line is very prone to high frequency noise pick-up
if its placed in close proximity (physically) to the memory module.
Vref (4)
The Vref pin is used to produce a buffered output of the internal reference voltage
equivalent to half VDDQ. The two internal resistors (50K ohm) are dividing down the
VDDQ voltage on the pin to generate the regulated output voltage. Keep in mind that
Vref output has to remain active during a current-limit shutdown state and thermal
shutdown condition because a voltage reference is required in order for the 'Suspend-To
RAM' (STR) function to work.
VTT (8)
This pin is the termination voltage rail (+/-) for the end-of-chain memory and this VTT
voltage is dissipated through its connected termination resistors tied to the data lines
(pins) of the DDR-SDRAM. Pin 8 of U3 also sinks and sources current output. This is a
must, because DDR memory has a push-pull output buffer and the input receiver is a
differential stage needing a reference bias mid-point called voltage-reference (Vref). So
this means it requires an input voltage termination capable of sourcing and sinking the
current.
Thermal Shutdown (2) (When thermal-shutdown is active VTT will tri-state)

U3 will naturally develop its own heat dissipation due to its internal functionality, if
thermal conditions rise above the thermal junction temperature point (threshold limit)
thermal-shutdown protection will be triggered and engaged. This happens due to a
shorted component, internal fault with U3, or poor circuit design promoting high thermal
conditions. In the case of poor circuit design some technicians place a cooling pad on U3
and this returns U3 below the hysteretic trigger point and it resumes normal operation.
37

Main Board U3: Intermittent Shutdown/No Boot-up

The following assume that U1 and U2 are in working order
This concludes DDR Termination Faults
38

As stated in previous pages DDR topology is complex in how it functions however,

testing the DDR termination IC (U3) is fairly quick and simple using a digital
oscilloscope and DV meter. In fact some professional TV technicians don't bother testing
the DDR IC they just replace it (not recommended for intermediate tech's) because
professionals have enough experience to know the symptoms DDR termination IC
causes. LDO's, Buck IC's, and DDR IC's commonly pose major problems on LCD TV
main boards and until now have been a powerful and affective in-house troubleshooting
secret among master technicians for years.
The information in this handbook assume that PS-On and Power-Good logic commands
are in working order, and to learn more about these important logic commands they are
explained in great detail in LCD TV Repair Secrets book and LCD TV SMPS IC Chip
Faults book.
Conclusion
This manual is dedicated to the greatest technicians David Maltz, Jestine Yong, Sunny,
Teonna Flags and Micheal B Danish. For any questions or concerns with LCD TV
SMPS repair you can email me at damon@plasmatvrepairguide.com
All material and illustrations in this manual are original, written, compiled, and illus-
trated by Damon Diode at TechSociety in USA.
To your success,
Damon C Morrow
Author of “LCD TV Main Board Secrets”
39

Circuit Glossary Of Terms

ADC:
Analog to Digital Converter. A semiconductor which converts an analog signal into a
digital value.
AC coupled:
A designed circuit that doesn’t pass the DC component of a particular signal, DC offsets
are ignored.
Active crossover IC:

An IC semiconductor or circuit which divides the audio signal into the proper frequency
bands for the tweeter, mid-range, and woofer.
Additive Color Processor IC:

A color generation processor IC used in video that combines red, green, and blue to
make all colors. Red, green, and blue combined together create a white raster on the
video screen. Black screen is the absence of red, green, and blue colors.
Accu-Rate Frame Lock (AFL):

A patented technique of solving a problem called image tearing in LCD TV's which has
to do with image scaling. This is especially present when erroneous motion video is in
action, and this error happens when the input of the frame rate is faster or slower than
the output of the frame rate, and a portion of the old frame and portion of the new frame
are both displayed at the same time during the process of a refresh cycle. AFL patented
system locks and sets the output of a frame rate to the input of a frame rate from a
designated input. This produces an output that is free of image-tearing in a switching
system which is seamless.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI):

A non-profit, private organization which administers and coordinates the voluntary
standardization and conformity assessment system in the USA.
Ampere (AMP):
Base unit consisting of electrical current which represents the flow rate of electric
charges going through a conductor wire. 1 amp is equal to current generated by 1 volt
applied across a resistance of 1 ohm.
40

Aspect Ratio:
Physically comparing screen width to screen height, the aspect ratio of HDTV is 16 by 9
(16:9).
Amplifier:
A semiconductor IC or circuit used to increase the voltage amplitude of a signal.
Amplitude:
The strength or level of a signal which is measured by the vertical height of its
waveform on a digital oscilloscope.
Analog:
A continuous action or movement that varies and takes time to change from one position
to another. Basic standard audio and video signals are analog. An analog signal carries
an infinite number of levels between its maximum and minimum value. Analog is a
continuous range of values to interpret data (information), an endless resolution of
values can be set in an analog system (circuit). Digital is different in that it changes in
steps.
Asynchronous:
Continuous, not synchronized, or intermittent, its a kind of communication which
permits two IC's (such as two buck chips) a signaling communication scheme that
allows both IC's to signal each other when necessary instead of a prescribed
(synchronous) timing format.
Attenuation:
Reducing the amplitude (strength or current level) of a signal.
Auto-Input Switching/Auto-Switching:
An IC or circuit that enables an LCD TV main board or Plasma TV main board the
ability to detect which input contains an active sync-signal (such as a sudden HDMI
input) and switch over to that input.
Bandwidth:
The complete range of frequency needed to pass a particular signal without distortion or
data loss. A circuits bandwidth should be wider than the maximum bandwidth of the
signals it may manage. A wider bandwidth means a more efficient circuit function with
increased performance.
41

Baseband:
A primary signal (such as component video signal) including audio with a dedicated
path which means it is not modulated on a carrier signal or coupled with other signals
along a path. A video signal waveform is a baseband video signal.
Bi-directional:
the capability to transfer, move, or transmit in both directions. Signals can pass through
in either direction along the same port by the same path.
Bit-depth:
The quantity of bits per pixel. Bit depth approximates the number of shades of gray or
variations of colors that are displayed on an LCD TV. A bit depth of 1 will display just
black and white as with a bit depth of 16 can produce 65,5360 various color tones. Bit
depth is the quantity of bits used to valuate the chrominance and luminance of one pixel
in a bit-mapped picture or video frame buffer.
Bit error Rate:

Fraction of bits which were transmitted with errors that are represented at the ratio of
correctly transmitted bits or incorrectly transmitted bits.
Black-Level:
Also known as 'brightness' black-level is the level of light generated on an LCD TV
screen. The magnitude of an image signal corresponding to the highest limit of black
peaks. The brightness control sets the black-level.
Buffer:
Also known as a unity gain amplifier, a buffer isolates the signal source from the load
and buffers are used in both digital (logic) and analog (linear) circuits. A buffer can also
be a region of memory which is used to store data temporarily while being transferred
from one process function to another.
Bus:
A dedicated path for transporting data signals, voltages, or a ground between various
sections of an LCD TV main board such as a data-bus signal between memory and a
microcontroller and/or peripheral circuits. The number of conductors (wires) determine
the width of the data-bus line and the circuits that drive the lines determine the speed
(data transfer rate).
42

Chroma:
Qualities of chroma include Hue and saturation, black, white, and gray are not properties
of chroma, its the color intensity or purity which is also known as Hue. It is the color
data separate from the brightness or the intensity of luma. A black and white TV image
has an absence of the chroma signal.
Chroma delay:
An error in the video picture in which the color tone of an object or area of the screen
has moved to the right side of the luma intensity.
Chroma gain:
In video, its an amplifier gain, as it means the level of color tone intensity in an active
motion picture.
Clipping Level:
A circuit limit to protect against over-driving a video or audio signal. Clipping is cutting
off (clipping) excursions or peaks of a particular signal. Its a type of noise (distortion)
that happens when the excursions of a signal go beyond the threshold limits of the
circuit.
Common Mode Rejection:

Measuring how good a differential amplifier rejects a signal that is present at the same
time and is in phase at both terminal inputs. Valuated as a dB ratio with a corresponding
frequency.
DAC:
Digital-To-Analog Converter
Data:
A representation of instructions/task in a format that's suitable for interpretation or
communication. Representations such as analog quantities that have substance, value, or
meaning.
Data Compression:
Math algorithms for compressing or encoding data to be placed with-in a specific
bandwidth requirement for storage or transmission.
DC Offset:
The degree at which a DC voltage is bounced away from a baseline value or from zero
VDC.
43

DC Restoration:
The proper blanking level for a video signal is zero volts. DC restoration circuit will
clamp the blanking at a regulated level, and when set accurately this level will be at zero
volts.
Decoder:
An IC semiconductor or circuit used to divide the RGBS (red, green, blue, sync) signals
away from a composite video signal. Decoder is also an IC semiconductor or circuit in a
syncronizer or programmer device which will read the encoded signal and configures it
into a type of control.
EIA:
Electronics Industries Association
An important Association which determines recommended audio and video standards in
the USA.
EMI:
Electromagnetic Interference
Unwanted interference, EMI is any electromagnetic disturbance which obstructs,
degrades, limits, or interrupts the intended function of electronics/electrical equipment.
Encoder:
An IC semiconductor, circuit, or algorithm which converts data from one format to
another. An encoder on an LCD TV main board will mix and combine Y (luma) with C
(chroma) to generate a video image, or S-video (rarely used) is encoded (combined) to
develop a composite video signal.
Encryption:
Data is manipulated into a coded format which can't be interpreted without another
device which will decipher (untangle) the code.
Error Correction:
Method of detecting errors then reconstructing the original data using additional
redundant data sent with the original information. It reconstructs the received signal into
a dedicated reproduction of the original signal with-out any errors.
44

Filter:
A component or circuit which accepts what is desired and rejects what is not desired,
different filters have different purposes. If there is a high frequency noise mixed with a
signal, a low-pass filter is used to pass the signal and reject the high frequency (noise).
Flash-Memory:
A unique version of an EEPROM which can be re-written while still inside its
operational environment opposed to being physically removed and programmed by a
programming device.
Frames Per Second (FPS):

A data measure that is used to store and display a motion picture. Each frame
corresponds to a still image and frame display in successions makes the illusion of
motion. The motion pictures appears smoother if there are additional frames per second
(FPS).
Frame Synchronizer:
Will store each input frame of video and releases it as the nest frame arrives. Frame
synchronizers convert analog video into digital video and are generally used to
synchronize multiple sources.
Front Porch:
Blanking or black portion of a composite image signal resting between the leading edge
of the horizontal blanking pulse and the leading edge of the corresponding horizontal
sync pulse.
Gain:
A common terminology for the increase of power in a signal or voltage produced by an
amplifier, the quantity of gain is usually expressed in decibels (dB) above a given
reference level.
Gamma Correction:
Before a display is generated the linear RGB information is required to be processed
(gamma correction) in order to compensate for the gamma of the display.
Genlock:
A general method where the video output of a source or reference signal is used to
synchronize other TV picture sources together. Sources of video that are Genlocked have
vertical sync pulses that are synchronized together.
45

Ground:
An electrical circuit connection at a point designated as having zero potential. Its the
electrical connection between the earth (earth-ground) and the circuit.
Half Duplex:
Transmission of A/V data than can happen in two different directions over a signal path
but in only one direction at a time.
Handshake:
Its the moment when the transmitting and receiving IC chips on an LCD TV main board
identify themselves to each other. For example a core processor on a main board
handshaking with a supervisory IC on the SMPS board to initialize a power-good start-
up.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface):

Released to the consumer market in 2003 HDMI is a popular interface used mostly on
LCD and Plasma TV's for the transmission of uncompressed high definition video
images. HDMI typically has 8 channels of control and audio signals through a single
cable.
High Pass Filter:

An IC semiconductor or circuit, that discriminates between low and intermittent
frequencies and will only permit high frequencies to pass. Sometimes referred to as a
low cut filter (cutting off low frequencies).
I/O (Input/Output):
The flow of signals or data (both in-or-out) in reference to a specific device or devices.
Image:
Imitation or reproduction of a thing or person from various kinds of visual media.
Impedance:
The load or opposition to a signal value that is measured in Ohms and which is
abbreviate with 'Z' or 'W'. Low impedance circuits for video are low 'Z' (600 Ohms or
less) or high 'Z' (over 10k Ohms or more) and 75 Ohms is the typical termination
impedance for video circuits.
46

Impedance matching:
When a circuit generates a video or audio signal it is engineered to function with in a
specific load value (impedance). It is vital that impedance specifications are followed
and that the circuit load(s) are matched to the source. If not, unwanted effects like
reflections, signal loss, and distortion of the original signal value will result from
mismatch (unbalanced) impedance levels.
Inductor:
A circuit component (coil of wire) which opposes changes in the flow of current and
stores the electrical energy as a magnetic field.
Interlacing:
The process of scanning a picture onto a video screen in-which the lines of one scanned
field falls evenly in between the lines of the next proceeding field.
Jitter:
An unstable video image or a video image which appears to shake and causes viewing
problems.
Jumper wire:
An extra or single conductor wire used to connect over (jump-over) other conductors at
various junction points of an electronic circuit.
Kilo:
Represents the unit of 1000 for example 100K Ohms is 100,000 Ohms.
Key Fill:
A video signal that fills a hole cut in a background video by the key source.
Keyer:
A circuit which generates a control signal which is used to control a video multiplier
which is referenced from specific information contained inside the video signal.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display):

A glass panel which uses two clear sheets of polarizing material with a liquid containing
crystals between them. LCD panels do not emit light and usually has a back-light source
to illuminate the pixels.
47

LcoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon):

A reflective display topology where a glass substrate is attached to a silicon chip that’s
coated with crystals and this chip (wafer) contains the control circuitry.
LED (Light Emitting Diode):

A semiconductor component which emits an incoherent narrow spectrum of light inside
the p-n junction.
Line Driver:
A signal amplifier which is used to expand a video signal over long extended distances,
similar to a distribution amplifier (DA).
Linearity:
The capability of a display device to generate an object the same size at any place on the
screen. Bad linearity will display an object at one size on the top of the screen and a
different size of the same object at the bottom of the screen.
Megapixel:
Defines the resolution range (in digital imaging devices) when the quantity of pixels are
equal to or greater than 1 million pixels.
Modulation:
A process of combining an information signal to a carrier frequency to permit it to be
transmitted, and the carrier is modulated by the information signal (interfacing).
Momentary key-Switch:
This is a switch or switches found on LCD TV and Plasma TV keypad module, and
these switches return to their normal circuit condition when the physical actuating force
is removed.
Mux (Multiplexer):
A circuit or an IC chip which combines multiple signals for transmission over a single
line. Then the signals are demultiplexed (DEMUX'd) or divided at the receiving end of
the line.
Native Resolution:
A single fixed resolution of an LCD or Plasma TV matrix display topology. Its where
pixels between the image source and display are properly aligned and does not require
scaling or the processing of other signals. Its the resolution in which an image was
originally produced at.
48

Networking:
Multiple chips or circuits communicating between each other and sharing the same
data/signal resources.
Node:
One specific connected location or point on a network or circuit infrastructure.
Noise:
An unwanted signal that affects the quality of a TV picture or TV audio.
Noise Reduction Circuit:

A circuit or IC chip which reduces the the amount of unwanted noise in an audio signal
or video signal. As the signal is compressed and then expanded the noise factor tends to
be pushed-back which results in a much quieter signal.
Non-Composite Video signal:

A video signal which only has picture and blanking data and no sync information.
Ohm:
Unit of electrical resistance casting a current of one amp when there’s a potential
difference of one volt.
Output Power:
unit of electrical energy expressed in watts or dBm.
Overscan:
Unwanted TV lines proceeding the limits of the display screen.
Passive Crossover:
Crossover network which separates audio frequencies using no buffering components or
active amplification and only requires inductors, capacitors, and resistors.
Pulse Code Modulation:

A digital representation of an analog audio signal, PCM is also the standard form of
digital audio for the audio portion of a digital video image.
Peak:
The maximum level of signal strength determined vertically (height) of the signals
waveform using an oscilloscope.
49

Peak White:
The whitest area of a picture signal.
Peak-to-Peak:
This is the difference in the amplitude of a unit such as 'voltage' between its most
positive and negative excursions.
P-Frame:
Predictive coded image which has predictive information needed to regenerate a video
frame.
Phase:
Relative timing of one signal to another expressed in degrees of shift.
Quantization:
A process of sampling an analog waveform to convert its levels of voltage into digital
data.
Quantization Noise:
Noise that happens from the quantization process. Deviation of a signal from its original
or proper value.
RAM (Random Access memory):

Volatile memory that can be read from and written to, RAM is the functioning memory
where active data and programs are stored. Volatile RAM looses its content when power
is removed and non-volatile RAM keeps its content when power is removed.
Raster:
A series of scan lines that create a TV picture on the display screen. Raster lines are also
known as scan lines.
Real-Time:
A network or system which delivers a correct value of data in the window of time and
frequency in which it is needed.
Reconstruction Filter:
Low-pass filter in which its function reduces aliasing and smooths out the digital edges
in an image.
50

Redundancy:
Repetitious data that provides a back up solution if the primary data fails at any time.
Sample Rate:
Rate at which an analog signal is sampled, a higher sample rate permits a higher
frequency response.
Saturation:
Chroma gain, the intensity of color tone, the less white in a color tone the more pure the
color or saturation will be. Saturation is the quantity of pigment in a color tone and not
the intensity. Low saturation is adding white to a color.
Scaler:
A circuit or IC chip that converts video signals from one size measure or resolution to
another. Also known as up-converting or up-scaling swinging from low resolution to
high resolution, this is done to optimize or condition the signal which go's to the input of
an image processor IC.
Scaling:
Changing the size of a picture to fit the original rate of a TV screen display without
altering the picture shape. There are various techniques used for image scaling and some
image scaling topologies are better than others.
Serial Data:
A method of transferring information by dividing the characters of a word into bits then
they are transmitted in a sequential format along one path.
Sharpness:
Defines the edges of an object in a TV image.
Termination:
A load at the end portion of a signal line used to match the impedance of the circuit that
generated the signal. The impedance absorbs the energy of the signal to oppose signal
reflections from going back into the source from which it came originally.
TFT LCD (Thin Film Transistor Panel):

RGB pixels which are controlled by one or multiple thin-film transistors, these panels
are also known as active matrix LCD's'.
51

Time Code:
A binary code or digital code which is used to identify each frame of a video, it is a form
of hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM):

Digital transmission method where a channel is separated into two or more timing slots
or sub-channels in such a way where the sub-channels get segmented turns in the bit
stream.
Unbalanced Audio:
Unwanted audio output either one of two terminal outputs is shorted to ground potential.
Underscan:
A vertical and horizontal reduction of the screen raster size in which all four corners of
the picture image are visible on the TV screen.
Voltage Control Amplifier:

The output is controlled from its voltage being varied opposed to being controlled by
direct resistance.
Vectorscope:
A specialized oscilloscope normally used in professional video systems to monitor
chroma.
Video Amplifier:
Low-pass amplifier used to maximize the video signal for TV reception and
transmission.
Voltage:
Unit of electrical potential difference expressed in 'Volts' also known as electromotive
force.
Watt:
One watt is equal to 1 joule of energy per second, it is the unit of electrical power used
to represent the rate of energy consumed or produced by an electronic circuit.
Wavelength:
Distance from one peak to the next peak between equal points in near-by waves of
electromagnetic signals that are propagated along a wire conductor.
52

White Noise:
This is random amplitude over a wide frequency range, normally used to test audio
speakers for sensitivity and resonance.
XGA (Extended Graphics Array):

This is a screen resolution of 1024X768 pixels.
Y:
Luma or Luminance
Y pb Pr:
Describes color space for progressive-scan of component video (non-interlaced).
Y/C separator (YCS):

Isolates Luma (y) and Chroma (c) elements of a composite video signal, it is the first
process in decoding composite video.
Z:
Symbol for impedance.
53

Recommended Resources
List Of Electronics Spare Part Suppliers
http://www.jestineyong.com/?cat=12
Electronics Repair Forum

1) http://forum.eserviceinfo.com
2) www.Repairworld.com
3) http://www.tv-forums.com/
4) http://www.edaboard.com/
5) http://www.tv.quuq.org/
Electronics Repair Websites

1) www.ElectronicRepairGuide.com
2) www.Anatekcorp.com
3) www.Epanorama.net/links/repair.html
Electronics Repair Membership Websites

1) www.ElectronicRepairGuide.com/Recommend/PlasmaTelevisionRepair.htm
2) www.ElectronicRepairGuide.com/Recommend/LCDTelevisionRepair.htm
3) www.ElectronicRepairGuide.com/Recommend/ProjectionTelevisionRepair.htm
Electronics Repair Ebooks

1) www.PowerSupplyRepairGuide.com
2) www.LCDMonitorCaseHistories.com
3) www.LCD-Monitor-Repair.com
4) www.TestingElectronicComponents.com
5) www.FindBurntResistorValue.com
54

6) www.ElectronicsRepairArticles.com
7) www.electronicrepairguide.com/crt-tv-repair-ebook.html
8) www.electronicrepairguide.com/lcd-television-repair-ebook.html
9) www.electronicrepairguide.com/lcd-television-repair-case-histories.html
10) http://www.electronicrepairguide.com/learn-basic-electronics.html
11) LCD TV Repair Volume 1
55

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LCD TV Main Board Power Faults

Brought to you by Damon Morrow

LCD TV Repair Secrets Guide

LCD TV SMPS Repair

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You cannot give this E-book away for free.

Copyright@ All Rights Reserved

DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES

Limit of Liability / Disclaimer of Warranty:

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3 Main Board Basics 7

4 Main Board Systematic Voltage 9

6 Buck Converter IC's 17

9 Circuit Glossary Of Terms 40

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TV will not come out of Stand-By mode

TV turns on then shuts down

TV intermittently shuts its self down

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Removing and replacing SMD components on main-boards simply require some

So without any further due lets get started

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3) Main Board Basics

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4) Main Board Systematic Voltage

4.1) Why is 3.3V and 5V Systematic Voltage Important?

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But often, there’s a incremental transition from 5V to 3.3V or 3V sub-systems simply

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5.1 What Does Low Dropout Voltage Mean?

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5.2 Basic LDO Schematic

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5.3 LDO Load regulation (Main Digital Board)

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6) Buck Converter IC's

Now lets gain a basic understanding of what a buck converter is by comparing it to a

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6.1 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

(PWM) is an important part of buck converters, it is an internal function with-in the

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6.2 Discontinuous Mode & Continuous Mode

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Buck IC's U1 & U2 in Cascade Configuration

A cascade buck converter configuration on LCD TV main boards comprise of a main-

6.3 What Does Freewheel Mean?

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6.4 Basic Cascade and Freewheel Components

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Buck-Boost power stage can operate in continuous or discontinuous inductor current

U1/U2 Internals & Schematic Example

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Notice internal P-channel MOSFET switch at pin 4,5,6, in Fig12A/14A

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General Functional Scheme Of U1 and U2 Buck Converters

So when over-current protection (OCP) or short-circuit protection (SCP) occurs the