Display System USB Type-C Channel Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display apparatuses cannot access data from a portable device's storage medium when both a personal computer and the portable device are used as image sources simultaneously, limiting user experience.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus with a USB Type-C connector, multiplexing circuit, switch circuit, and display controller that separates image-transmission and data-transmission channels, allowing the portable device to act as a host in the image channel and a device in the data channel, enabling the host to recognize and access the portable device's storage medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional display apparatus connects to multiple devices as image sources simultaneously, then the display apparatus can receive images from multiple devices, but the personal computer cannot access data in the storage medium of the portable device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-device image source capabilityVSAvoiddata access capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the USB signal into separate image-transmission channel and data-transmission channel using a multiplexing circuit. This allows independent handling of image data and data access requests, enabling the host to access portable device storage while simultaneously receiving image input from the portable device through the same USB Type-C connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The USB Type-C connector is configured to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both an image source interface and a data access interface. The display apparatus can receive images from the portable device while also allowing the host to access the portable device's storage medium through the same physical connector.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the portable device acts as a host terminal in the image-transmission channel, then the portable device can transmit images to the display apparatus, but the host cannot access the portable device's storage medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage transmission capabilityVSAvoidstorage medium accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The multiplexing circuit separates the USB signal into distinct image-transmission channel and data-transmission channel. This segmentation allows the portable device to maintain host terminal status for image transmission while the host computer can simultaneously access the portable device's storage medium through the data-transmission channel, as the two functions operate independently through separate signal paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3944088B1Display system and display apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 GIGA BYTE TECH CO LTD
  • EP3944088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3944088B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3944088B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A display apparatus is provided, which includes a USB Type-C connector, display panel, a multiplexing circuit, a switch circuit, and a display controller. The USB Type-C connector is connected to a portable device, wherein a USB signal between the display apparatus and the portable device includes an image-transmission channel and a data-transmission channel. The multiplexing circuit separates the image-transmission channel from the data-transmission channel. The display controller controls a display mode of the display panel. In response to the display panel being in a first display mode, the display controller transmits a control signal to the switch circuit to control the multiplexing circuit to switch to a first operation mode. In response to the multiplexing circuit being in the first operation mode, the portable device acts as a host terminal in the image-transmission channel, and acts as a device terminal in the data-transmission channel.