Display Controller Memory Burst Mode Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices face issues with response speed, particularly when displaying moving images, due to the low response speed of liquid crystals, leading to afterimages, and require high-capacity, high-speed external memory for efficient frame data processing, which is costly.

Innovation Solution

A display controller with a timing controller that compresses frame data, generates FIFO input data, writes and reads data in burst mode to external memory, and decodes data to output previous frame data, utilizing dual-port memories for efficient data handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-capacity, high-speed external memory is used for frame data processing, then data processing efficiency is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system is segmented into two parts: a small internal memory buffer for temporary storage and a large external memory for frame data storage. The controller divides the memory hierarchy into fast internal memory for buffering and cost-effective external memory for bulk storage, resolving the contradiction between speed and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The memory controller acts as an intermediary between the fast internal memory and the slower external memory. It manages data transfer between these two memory types, optimizing the balance between access speed and storage capacity, allowing the system to use cheaper external memory while maintaining performance through intelligent data handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If frame data is compressed and written to external memory, then memory capacity requirement is reduced, but write/read operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory capacity requirementVSAvoidwrite/read operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary compression of frame data before writing to external memory, reducing the amount of data that needs to be stored. This pre-processing action decreases the memory capacity requirement while the controller manages the timing of read operations to minimize overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The memory controller continuously manages data transfer between internal and external memory, maintaining continuous useful action. It overlaps compression, writing, and reading operations where possible, ensuring that the system maintains high throughput despite the sequential nature of memory operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Speed

If burst mode reading/writing is implemented, then data transfer speed is improved, but memory controller complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidmemory controller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The memory controller merges multiple memory operations into burst mode transfers, combining multiple read/write cycles into a single optimized operation. This consolidation increases data transfer speed by reducing the overhead of individual memory transactions while managing complexity through integrated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The memory controller is designed with multi-functional capabilities that can handle both compression/decompression operations and burst mode data transfer. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single controller unit, managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate dedicated circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8581919B2Display controllers including memory controllers
Publication Date: 2013.11.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US8581919B2 patent drawing
  • US8581919B2 patent drawing
  • US8581919B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A display controller is provided. The display controller includes an external memory and a timing controller which compresses current frame data to generate front first in-first out (FIFO) input data, temporarily stores the front FIFO input data and writes the front FIFO input data to the external memory in a burst mode, and reads data from the external memory in the burst mode, temporarily stores the read data as back FIFO output data, and decodes the back FIFO output data to output previous frame data.