Cable Video Processing IC for Display Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing systems face challenges in synchronizing images across multiple displays, particularly when the external display has different properties like resolution and aspect ratio, requiring significant resources and complicating the process, especially in devices with limited circuitry like tablets or smartphones.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a video processing system within the cable connecting the host computing device to the external display, which includes a video processing IC that modifies frames to match the properties of the external display, ensuring consistent image display while reducing bandwidth requirements through horizontal and vertical scaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video processing is performed in the host computing device to synchronize images across multiple displays, then image synchronization is achieved, but device resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video processing functionality from the host computing device and relocates it to a separate cable component. The cable includes a video processing system with frame buffer memory and processing logic that handles image synchronization independently, allowing the host device to maintain fewer active circuits and consume less energy while still achieving reliable image synchronization across multiple displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cable-based video processing system as an intermediary between the host computing device and external displays. This intermediary handles the computationally intensive video processing tasks, including frame buffering and image synchronization, thereby protecting the host device from excessive resource consumption while ensuring reliable display synchronization.
2Productivity
If video processing circuitry is integrated into the cable, then resource usage at the host device is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video processing functionality into discrete components within the cable, including frame buffer memory, video processing logic, and display interface circuits. This segmentation allows the complex processing tasks to be distributed across separate functional blocks, making the cable's internal structure more manageable and the host device simpler.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested architecture where the video processing system is embedded within the cable assembly. The frame buffer memory and processing circuits are integrated into the cable's connector housing, creating a compact nested structure that increases cable functionality without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the same images are displayed concurrently on multiple displays with different resolutions, then display compatibility is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-buffering video frames in the cable's frame buffer memory before transmission to external displays. This allows the system to prepare and scale images to appropriate resolutions in advance, enabling compatibility with multiple display resolutions without requiring continuous high-bandwidth transmissions for each display variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically adjusting video signal parameters (resolution, scaling factors) based on the connected display's characteristics. The video processing system in the cable modifies frame parameters to match the external display's resolution requirements, achieving display compatibility while optimizing bandwidth usage through selective parameter adjustment rather than maintaining maximum bandwidth for all scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a host computing device (10) includes an internal display (12) and also includes a connector (18) to connect to an external display (16). A cable (14) is provided to connect to the connector and to connect to the external display. The cable includes video processing capabilities (24). For example, the cable may include a memory configured to store a frame buffer. The frame buffer may store a frame of video data for further processing by the video processing device in the cable. The video processing device may manipulate the frame in a variety of ways, e.g. scaling, rotating, gamma correction, dither correction, etc.