Display Controller Abnormal Area Relocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display control systems disable the entire display area when an abnormality is detected in a display driver, failing to utilize the remaining normal display area effectively, as content from the abnormal area cannot be displayed on the normal areas.

Innovation Solution

A display controller that includes an interface circuit and a processing circuit to receive abnormal display line detection information, determining abnormal display areas and moving specific display patterns from these areas to normal, usable areas, allowing continued display on unaffected regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the display operation of a display driver is stopped when an abnormality is detected, then the reliability of the display system is improved, but the usable display area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay system reliabilityVSAvoidusable display area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into multiple regions corresponding to different display drivers. When an abnormality is detected in one display driver, only the corresponding segment is disabled while other segments remain operational. This allows the system to maintain reliability by isolating the abnormality while preserving the usable display area of normal segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display system applies local quality control by treating different display areas differently based on their operational status. Normal display areas continue to function with full quality, while abnormal areas are selectively disabled. This ensures that the presence of an abnormality in one local region does not degrade the quality or functionality of other regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the entire display area is disabled when an abnormality is detected in a display driver, then the harmful effects of the abnormality are prevented, but the productivity of the display system is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality propagationVSAvoiddisplay output efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The abnormal display driver or its affected display area is extracted and isolated from the rest of the display system. By detecting the abnormality and disabling only the specific display driver responsible, the harmful effects are contained and prevented from propagating to other display drivers, while the remaining display drivers continue to operate and maintain productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The abnormality detection mechanism is converted into a beneficial feature by enabling selective disabling of only the affected display driver. This transforms the potential harm of an abnormality (which could affect the entire display system) into a benefit where the system automatically isolates the problem area while maintaining overall functionality and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10991344B2Display controller, display control system, electro-optical device, electronic apparatus, and mobile unit

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A display controller 100 includes an interface circuit 120 that receives abnormal display line detection information from a display driver 300 that drives an electro-optical panel 460, and a processing circuit 130 that controls the display driver 300. The processing circuit 130 performs determination on an abnormal display area based on the abnormal display line detection information. If a specific display pattern is displayed in the abnormal display area, the processing circuit 130 outputs, via the interface circuit 120, image data for displaying the specific display pattern in a destination display area that is a display area different from the abnormal display area.