Cholesteric LCD Software Timing Control for Faster Frame Refresh
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cholesteric liquid crystal displays (ChLCDs) require a bulky and costly timing controller for pixel reset and frame refresh, leading to inefficient frame updating due to repeated voltage configuration, limiting the refresh rate.
Innovation Solution
Replace the timing controller with timing controlling software executed by a system on a chip (SoC), which configures power supply channels to generate multiple voltage amplitudes once, allowing efficient and flexible frame refresh without the need for additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a timing controller is used to reset pixels and control frame refresh in conventional ChLCD, then the display can properly reset pixels and show video data, but the device size increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing controller from the conventional ChLCD system and replaces it with a software-based timing control mechanism. The timing controller's functions are transferred to a processor that executes timing control software, thereby eliminating the bulky hardware component while preserving the pixel reset and frame refresh capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the hardware timing controller with a software-based control system. Instead of using dedicated timing control hardware circuits, the invention uses a processor executing software instructions to manage timing sequences, voltage configuration, and frame refresh operations, thereby reducing hardware complexity.
2Reliability
If the timing controller repeatedly configures voltages for the power supply during each frame update, then the display can control voltage timing, but the frame update time increases and refresh rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring the power supply voltage in advance before the frame refresh operation. The timing control software pre-establishes the voltage configuration sequence, allowing the power supply to be ready before actual pixel reset and display operations begin, thereby eliminating redundant voltage configuration during each frame update.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining a persistent voltage configuration state in the power supply. Instead of repeatedly configuring voltages from scratch for each frame, the system maintains the configured voltage state and only makes necessary adjustments, thereby continuous operation without redundant configuration steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Saves manufacturing costs, reduces physical space, and significantly speeds up frame refresh by eliminating redundant voltage configuration steps, enhancing the efficiency of ChLCDs.
Implementation Method 1
A conventional cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD) has bistable liquid crystal properties
Implementation Method 2
the conventional ChLCD has bistable liquid crystal properties
Implementation Method 3
supply sufficiently significant voltage differences across each pair of pixel electrodes, thus generating strong enough electric fields to realign the bistable liquid crystals
Data Source
AI summary
A cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD) device comprises a ChLCD panel, a power supply module, and a system on a chip (SoC). A timing controlling software in the SoC is electrically connected to the power supply module as well as a scan driver and a data driver of the ChLCD panel. The timing controlling software configures and controls the power supply module to output a first to fourth voltage amplitude respectively from a first to fourth channel. The timing controlling software generates and outputs a voltage configuration command to the power supply module. According to the voltage configuration command and the first to the fourth voltage amplitudes, the power supply module generates a reset voltage needed across pixel electrodes for resetting the ChLCD panel and generates a display voltage needed across the pixel electrodes for displaying a frame. The ChLCD device more time efficiently refreshes the frame.