Display Touch Interrupt Signal Bypass for Low Frequency Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

In low frequency driving modes of display apparatuses, delays in transmitting touch events to the driving controller can lead to delayed image transitions, perceived by users as display defects.

Innovation Solution

The display apparatus directly outputs the touch interrupt signal to the driving controller, allowing it to perceive touch events immediately, thereby reducing delays in image transitions and enhancing display quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If low frequency driving mode is used, then power consumption is reduced, but touch event transmission delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtouch event transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the touch driver output the touch interrupt signal to the driving controller in advance, before the driving controller would normally process the touch event through the host. This pre-establishes the touch event notification path, enabling immediate response when a touch occurs during low frequency driving mode, thus reducing transmission delay while maintaining power savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the touch driver directly outputs the touch interrupt signal to the driving controller, bypassing the host's intermediate processing. This intermediary direct connection eliminates the bottleneck of host-mediated touch event transmission, allowing fast touch response even when the display operates in low frequency mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If low frequency driving mode is used, then power consumption is reduced, but image transition delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidimage transition delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the driving controller receive the touch interrupt signal from the touch driver and immediately adjust the display refresh rate or trigger immediate image updates in response to the touch event. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically switch from low frequency mode to high frequency mode or perform immediate updates only when needed, reducing image transition delay while maintaining overall power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If touch event is transmitted through host, then system control is simplified, but transmission speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem control complexityVSAvoidtouch event transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the touch event transmission path into two independent channels: one through the host for normal operation and another direct channel from the touch driver to the driving controller for fast response. This segmentation allows the direct channel to handle time-critical touch events without interfering with the simplified host-controlled path, achieving both fast transmission and manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3734581B1Display apparatus and method of driving the same
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3734581B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3734581B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3734581B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display apparatus includes: a display panel configured to display an image based on input image data; a gate driver configured to output a gate signal to the display panel; a data driver configured to output a data voltage to the display panel; a driving controller configured to control an operation of the gate driver and an operation of the data driver, to determine a normal driving mode and a low frequency driving mode based on the input image data, and to determine a driving frequency of the display panel based on the input image data; and a touch driver configured to detect a touch event occurring on the display panel, and to output a touch interrupt signal representing the touch event to the driving controller.