Display Controller Virtual Address Mapping for Page Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices face increased time and power consumption during page transitions due to the need to process and store large amounts of data, leading to inefficiencies in response time and energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A display controller with a processing unit, memory unit, and memory management unit that preprocesses and stores data in separate frame buffers, allowing for efficient address mapping and transition of virtual addresses to physical addresses, enabling rapid display updates without the need for continuous data storage and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is processed and stored continuously for display transitions, then display update capability is improved, but time consumption and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay update speedVSAvoidpage transition time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-loads multiple frames of display data into frame buffers before they are actually needed for display transitions. The memory management unit prepares virtual address mappings in advance, so when a page transition occurs, the data is already ready and can be displayed immediately without waiting for continuous processing and storage operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If data is continuously stored in frame buffers, then display responsiveness is improved, but current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidcurrent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data processing and storage in frame buffers during idle periods or when data is naturally available, rather than continuously operating. The memory management unit establishes virtual-to-physical address mappings in advance, enabling rapid transitions when needed while minimizing active processing time and associated power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If virtual addresses are mapped to physical addresses in real-time, then display flexibility is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddress mapping flexibilityVSAvoidaddress translation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The memory management unit pre-establishes mapping relationships between virtual addresses and physical frame buffer addresses during system initialization or idle periods. This allows the display system to quickly translate addresses during actual operation without performing complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining flexibility while reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9164884B2Display controller and display device including the same

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A display controller is provided that includes a processing unit configured to process input data, a memory unit configured to store some of the processed input data before a transition signal is enabled, a memory management unit configured to map consecutive virtual addresses of an image displayed on a display panel to physical addresses of data stored in the memory unit, and a control unit configured to control the processing unit and the memory management unit in response to a control signal and configured to provide a range of virtual addresses designated by the transition signal in response to enablement of the transition signal such that the image is displayed on the display panel.