Backlight Unit Control via Chained Ring Bus Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backlight unit control methods for large HDR displays require numerous pins and conductors, which become impractical as display sizes increase, limiting scalability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A chained ring bus architecture and BLU control protocol that distribute control messages with address headers and data payloads, allowing for efficient control of multiple backlight units without increasing pins or conductors, using a BLU controller integrated with an HDR controller, such as an ASIC or FPGA, to manage backlight units in a scalable manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional backlight unit control methods are used for large HDR displays, then each backlight unit can be controlled individually, but the number of pins and conductors increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system segments the backlight units into zones, with each zone served by a dedicated control channel. This allows individual backlight unit control while reducing the total number of conductors by grouping multiple backlight units under common control signals, thus resolving the contradiction between individual control capability and conductor quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements multi-functional conductors that can address and control multiple different backlight units through a single conductor. The control signals are designed to be universally applicable across different backlight units within a zone, allowing one conductor to serve multiple purposes and reduce the overall pin and conductor count.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of backlight units increases to support larger displays, then display size and coverage are improved, but the scalability of the control system is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control zones that can be scaled independently. Each zone operates with its own control channel, allowing the system to scale to larger displays by adding more zones without requiring a complete redesign of the control architecture, thus improving scalability with display size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the control system by implementing time-division multiplexing. Control signals are transmitted sequentially through different time slots, allowing a single physical conductor to handle control for multiple backlight units. This adds a time dimension to the control architecture, enabling scalability without proportionally increasing the number of physical conductors.
3Quantity of substance
If more conductors are added to control additional backlight units, then control coverage is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses universal control conductors that can address and control multiple backlight units through a single conductor. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of conductors needed, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity while still maintaining the ability to control a large number of backlight units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single integrated control system. By combining address signaling, control commands, and status monitoring into unified control channels, the system reduces the number of separate conductors and connection points needed, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining comprehensive control over numerous backlight units.
Data Source
AI summary
Display backlight units are controlled with a signal. A message has an address header specifying one of an array of backlight units, and instructions for individually controlling each of the backlight units, particularized accordingly. The message is routed from a controller to a first controllable backlight unit of the display, which controllably responds to its corresponding particularized instructions. The message is sequentially routed in order from each backlight unit to the next in a chained ring configuration. Data from the backlight units is similarly routed back to the controller.