Display Chip Animation Boot Sequence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices cannot display animations during their startup phase before the operating system gains control of the display chip, leading to user confusion and potential premature disconnection due to the static nature of initial display configurations.

Innovation Solution

A method that configures the video output and display registers to display an animation by writing multiple images into RAM, where each node includes the address of part of an image and the next node, allowing successive image display without adapting the display chip, enabling animation from the device's first moments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display chip is configured with static register programming to display an image during boot phase, then the device can show a powered-on indication, but it cannot display animations requiring multiple images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay capabilityVSAvoidregister configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display sequence is segmented into multiple discrete images stored in RAM, with each image represented by a node containing address information. The display register traverses these segmented images in sequence, enabling animation without requiring complex dynamic register reconfiguration for each frame

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple images are pre-loaded into RAM and organized into a sequential node structure before the boot process begins. The display register is pre-configured with the starting address of this node chain, allowing the animation to play automatically as the register traverses the pre-prepared image sequence during the boot phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the operating system loads display chip drivers before showing startup animation, then the animation can be displayed, but it delays animation appearance until 5-15 seconds after power-on

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestartup delayVSAvoiddisplay control
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display chip performs self-service by using its existing display register to traverse and display the pre-loaded image nodes in RAM without requiring external driver intervention. The boot program configures the register once with the starting address, and the chip autonomously sequences through all images, enabling animation display immediately at power-on before the operating system loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a static image is displayed during boot phase, then the display chip can be简单地 configured, but users may mistake it for a malfunction and disconnect the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser understandingVSAvoidimage storage and sequencing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The visual display is segmented into multiple discrete images stored in RAM, with each image represented by a node containing address information. The display register traverses these segmented images in sequence, enabling animation without requiring complex dynamic register reconfiguration for each frame

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple images are pre-loaded into RAM and organized into a sequential node structure before the boot process begins. The display register is pre-configured with the starting address of this node chain, allowing the animation to play automatically as the register traverses the pre-prepared image sequence during the boot phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3423978B1Displaying an animation while booting a device
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
  • EP3423978B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3423978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3423978B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for displaying an animation by means of a display chip (PA) of an electronic device (DE), the electronic device (DE) comprising a non-volatile memory (MN) and a random-access memory (MV), the display chip (PA) comprising a video output register (RV) and a display register (RA). The method comprises a first static programming phase including a step (E1) for configuring the video output register (RV); a step (E2) for writing n images in the random-access memory (MV), n being an integer higher than or equal to two; a step (E3) for writing into the random-access memory (MV) of a plurality of nodes (Ni), such that each node comprises the address in the random-access memory (MV) of at least one portion of an image, as well as the address of the following node in the random-access memory (MV), the last node comprising the address in the random-access memory (MV) of the first node; and a step (E4) for configuring the display register (RA). The method also comprises a second phase in which the n images are read by the display chip (PA) by means of the display register (RA), in order to display the animation. A device for carrying out said method is also disclosed.