SPI signal cross-screen receiving method and foldable dual-screen electronic device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for receiving SPI signals across screens and a foldable dual-screen electronic device. In order to reduce the number of cross-screen signal lines in the SPI signal cross-screen reception scheme, the SPI signal cross-screen reception method of the present invention includes: a first device sends a first SPI data input signal and a first SPI clock signal to a data receiving module in a second under-screen chip; based on whether the first SPI data input signal is valid, the data receiving module determines the value of a first SPI tag and sends the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to a framing and sending module; the framing and sending module sends frame data including at least the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to a receiving and deframing module in the first under-screen chip via a first cross-screen signal line; if the first SPI tag indicates that the first SPI data input signal is valid, the first SPI data input signal is stored in a first FIFO module for access by an application processor. The present invention can significantly reduce the number of cross-screen signal lines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of signal bridging and conversion, and in particular to an SPI signal cross-screen receiving method and a foldable dual-screen electronic device. Background Art

[0002] Foldable dual-screen electronic devices, as innovative technological products, have won the favor of many consumers due to their portability and large-screen design. However, the dynamic hinge connection between the two screens places higher demands on the stability and durability of the inter-screen signal cables. Frequent opening and closing operations can cause inter-screen signal cables to malfunction, significantly shortening the lifespan of the electronic device. Therefore, reducing the number of inter-screen signal cables used has become a pressing issue in this field.

[0003] Figure 1 A diagram shows the hinged connection between the first and second screens, along with the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) connection scheme. The SPI interface is a full-duplex, synchronous communication bus with the advantages of simplicity and high communication speed.

[0004] The application processor is located below the first screen, while the second screen includes the first and second sensors. The application processor has two SPI interfaces: SPI1 and SPI2. SPI1 and SPI2 transmit signals to the first and second sensors directly across the hinge via cross-screen signal lines.

[0005] Since each standard SPI interface includes four signal lines, which are generally referred to in the art as: an SPI clock signal SPI_SCLK, an SPI data output signal SPI_DO, an SPI data input signal SPI_DI, and an SPI chip select signal SPI_CS.

[0006] Figure 1 The two SPI interfaces in the example require eight cross-screen signal lines: SPI1_SCLK, SPI1_DO, SPI1_DI, and SPI1_CS for SPI1, and SPI2_SCLK, SPI2_DO, SPI2_DI, and SPI2_CS for SPI2. This approach results in a large number of cross-screen signal lines, complex printed circuit board routing, and a large footprint.

[0007] How to reduce the number of cross-screen signal lines in the SPI signal cross-screen reception solution has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In order to alleviate or partially alleviate the above technical problems, the solutions of the present invention are as follows:

[0009] A method for receiving SPI signals across screens is disclosed, wherein an application processor under a first screen receives an SPI signal from at least a first device under a second screen, the first device sending a first SPI data input signal and a first SPI clock signal to a data receiving module in a chip under the second screen; the data receiving module determines the value of a first SPI tag based on whether the first SPI data input signal is valid, and sends the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to a framing and sending module; the framing and sending module sends frame data including at least the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to a receiving and deframing module in the first chip under the screen via a first cross-screen signal line; if the first SPI tag indicates that the first SPI data input signal is valid, the first SPI data input signal is stored in a first FIFO module for access by the application processor.

[0010] Furthermore, the frame data includes SPI data input signals and SPI tags sent by more than two devices.

[0011] Furthermore, the first under-screen chip obtains a receiving clock from the second under-screen chip through the second cross-screen signal line.

[0012] Furthermore, the first device is a first sensor.

[0013] Furthermore, the frame data also includes a start mark and an end mark.

[0014] Furthermore, the information sent by the data receiving module to the framing and sending module does not include the first SPI clock signal.

[0015] Furthermore, the first cross-screen chip makes the first SPI data input signal comply with SPI protocol rules by adding configurable virtual bits.

[0016] Furthermore, the first device is an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, a light sensor or a temperature sensor.

[0017] Furthermore, the application processor and the first under-screen chip are both located under the first screen; the second under-screen chip and the first device are both located under the second screen.

[0018] A foldable dual-screen electronic device includes a first screen and a second screen, and also includes an application processor and a first under-screen chip both located under the first screen, and a second under-screen chip and a first device both located under the second screen; when the application processor under the first screen receives an SPI signal from at least the first device under the second screen, the SPI signal cross-screen reception method described in any of the above items is applied.

[0019] The technical solution of the present invention has one or more of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0020] (1) When receiving SPI signals across screens, the number of cross-screen signal lines can be greatly reduced, especially when there are a large number of SPI interfaces.

[0021] (2) The project implementation is easy and complies with the SPI protocol specifications.

[0022] In addition, other beneficial effects of the present invention will be mentioned in the specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a first screen and a second screen connected by a hinge and a serial peripheral device interface connection scheme;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary SPI signal cross-screen receiving solution of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a further schematic diagram of the SPI signal cross-screen receiving solution of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of the SPI signal cross-screen receiving method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] To facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, in the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between identical or similar items having substantially the same functions and effects. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or order of execution.

[0029] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of an exemplary SPI signal cross-screen reception solution of the present invention is shown. An application processor and a first under-screen chip are provided under the first screen.

[0030] For example, the application processor includes a first SPI interface and a second SPI interface. The first under-screen chip includes a first edge detection module and a second edge detection module.

[0031] The second under-screen chip includes a frame data generation module that sends first received data to the first edge detection module and the second edge detection module via a first cross-screen signal line. Furthermore, the second under-screen chip transmits a receive clock to the first under-screen chip via a second cross-screen signal line.

[0032] The first SPI interface and the first edge detection module can transmit data to each other, and the second SPI interface and the second edge detection module can transmit data to each other.

[0033] The first device and the second device are two devices located under the second screen. For example, the first device is a first sensor and the second device is a second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor here are only exemplary devices and can also be other types of devices.

[0034] The first sensor and the second under-screen chip can transmit SPI signals to each other. The second sensor and the second under-screen chip can also transmit SPI signals to each other.

[0035] Signals sent between the first under-screen chip and the second under-screen chip are transmitted via the cross-screen signal line. For example, the first received data is transmitted via the first cross-screen signal line, and the received clock is transmitted via the second cross-screen signal line.

[0036] Figure 3 This figure further illustrates the cross-screen SPI signal reception solution of the present invention. The application processor receives an SPI data input signal from a first under-display chip. If the data originates from two devices, namely a first device and a second device, the application processor receives a first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI and a second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI from the first under-display chip.

[0037] The first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI and the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI are specifically obtained in the following manner:

[0038] The first device and the second device are, for example, a first sensor and a second sensor, respectively. The first sensor and the second sensor are located under the second screen, and can be, for example, one or more of the following: an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, a light sensor, and a temperature sensor.

[0039] The first device sends the first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI and the first SPI clock signal SPI1_SCLK to the data receiving module in the second under-screen chip; the second device sends the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI and the second SPI clock signal SPI2_SCLK to the data receiving module in the second under-screen chip.

[0040] When communicating with the first and second devices, the data receiving module can determine whether the first and second devices are in the data sending or data receiving state. Data received from either the first or second device is considered valid only when the data is being received from either the first or second device. Therefore, data in this state can be marked as valid.

[0041] For example, the first SPI flag SPI1_DI_VLD is used to mark whether the first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI received by the data receiving module from the first device is valid. For example, if it is valid, the first SPI flag SPI1_DI_VLD is set to 1, otherwise it is set to 0. The data receiving module receives the first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI ( Figure 3 middle ) and the first SPI flag SPI1_DI_VLD ( Figure 3 middle ) is sent to the framing and sending module.

[0042] Furthermore, the second SPI flag SPI2_DI_VLD is used to mark whether the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI received by the data receiving module from the second device is valid. For example, if it is valid, the second SPI flag SPI2_DI_VLD is set to 1, otherwise it is set to 0. The data receiving module receives the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI ( Figure 3 middle ) and the second SPI flag SPI2_DI_VLD ( Figure 3 middle ) is sent to the framing and sending module.

[0043] Framing and sending modules follow The data is transmitted in the order of the first and second frames, and the start and end flags S and E are added to assemble this information into a frame of data. The data is sent to the receiving and de-framing module in the first under-screen chip via the first cross-screen signal line. In the present invention, the cross-screen signal line refers to the signal line that passes through the hinge.

[0044] Whether to store the first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI into a first first-in first-out (FIFO) module is determined according to whether the first SPI flag SPI1_DI_VLD indicates validity.

[0045] Whether to store the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI into the second FIFO module is determined according to whether the second SPI flag SPI2_DI_VLD indicates validity.

[0046] Finally, the application processor reads the first SPI data input signal SPI1_DI and the second SPI data input signal SPI2_DI by accessing the first FIFO module and the second FIFO module.

[0047] Figure 4 A flowchart of the cross-screen SPI signal reception method of the present invention is presented. The cross-screen SPI signal reception method of the present invention is applied to an application processor under a first screen to receive an SPI signal from at least a first device under a second screen. The first device sends a first SPI data input signal and a first SPI clock signal to a data receiving module in a chip under the second screen. Based on whether the first SPI data input signal is valid, the data receiving module determines the value of a first SPI flag and sends the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI flag to a framing and transmission module.

[0048] The framing and sending module sends the frame data including at least the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to the receiving and deframing module in the first under-screen chip through the first cross-screen signal line; if the first SPI tag indicates that the first SPI data input signal is valid, the first SPI data input signal is stored in the first FIFO module for access by the application processor.

[0049] Preferably, the first cross-screen chip makes the first SPI data input signal comply with SPI protocol rules by adding configurable virtual bits.

[0050] Preferably, the frame data includes SPI data input signals and SPI tags sent by more than two devices.

[0051] Furthermore, the information sent by the data receiving module to the framing and sending module does not include the SPI clock signal, especially the first SPI clock signal.

[0052] Therefore, compared to traditional solutions, the present invention transmits information from two cross-screen signal lines that receive SPI signals through a single cross-screen signal line. The greater the number of SPI interfaces, the greater the number of cross-screen signal lines that can be replaced. Generally, if there are n SPI interfaces, then compared to the traditional solution, 2n cross-screen signal lines are required to achieve cross-screen reception of SPI signals, while the present invention only requires two cross-screen signal lines, where n is a positive integer.

[0053] To better illustrate the present invention, numerous specific details are provided in the detailed description above. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced without certain specific details. In some instances, methods, means, components, and circuits well known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail in order to highlight the main purpose of the present invention.

[0054] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for receiving SPI signals across screens, wherein an application processor under a first screen receives an SPI signal from at least a first device under a second screen, and wherein: The first device sends a first SPI data input signal and a first SPI clock signal to a data receiving module in the second under-screen chip; The data receiving module determines the value of the first SPI tag according to whether the first SPI data input signal is valid, and sends the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to the framing and sending module; The framing and sending module sends the frame data including at least the first SPI data input signal and the first SPI tag to the receiving and deframing module in the first under-screen chip through the first cross-screen signal line; If the first SPI flag indicates that the first SPI data input signal is valid, the receiving and de-framing module stores the first SPI data input signal in the first FIFO module for access by the application processor; The frame data includes SPI data input signals and SPI tags sent by more than two devices; When a data state is received from the first device, the first SPI flag indicates that the first SPI data input signal is valid; The first under-screen chip obtains a receiving clock from the second under-screen chip via the second cross-screen signal line; The first cross-screen chip makes the first SPI data input signal comply with SPI protocol rules by adding configurable virtual bits.

2. The SPI signal cross-screen receiving method according to claim 1, wherein: The first device is a first sensor.

3. The SPI signal cross-screen receiving method according to claim 2, wherein: The frame data also includes a start mark and an end mark.

4. The SPI signal cross-screen receiving method according to claim 3, wherein: The information sent by the data receiving module to the framing and sending module does not include the first SPI clock signal.

5. The SPI signal cross-screen receiving method according to claim 4, wherein: The first device is an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, a gyroscope, a light sensor, or a temperature sensor.

6. The SPI signal cross-screen receiving method according to claim 5, wherein: The application processor and the first under-screen chip are both located under the first screen; The second under-screen chip and the first device are both located under the second screen.

7. A foldable dual-screen electronic device comprising a first screen and a second screen, characterized in that: Also included are an application processor and a first under-screen chip, both located under the first screen, and a second under-screen chip and a first device, both located under the second screen; When the application processor under the first screen receives an SPI signal from at least the first device under the second screen, the SPI signal cross-screen reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is applied.

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