Active Matrix Display Control via DMA-SPI RGB Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active matrix displays without internal image memory require high-cost microcontrollers and complex peripheral modules to manage high data rates and color depths, making them expensive and inefficient for applications that only need limited color representation.
Innovation Solution
A method using a microcontroller with a DMA controller and hardware SPI to generate and transmit RGB image data sets with additional blanking data, emulating a parallel RGB interface, allowing control of active matrix displays with a simple, cost-effective microcontroller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high color depth and high data rate are used to control active matrix displays, then display quality and resolution are improved, but microcontroller cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process into two parts: 1) storing only essential 1-bit pixel data in the microcontroller's internal memory, and 2) generating the remaining color information (RGB data) on-demand during transmission to the display. This segmentation allows the microcontroller to maintain low complexity while still providing high color depth display capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing the 1-bit pixel data in the microcontroller's internal memory before transmission to the display. This preliminary storage of essential data allows the microcontroller to avoid needing complex external memory interfaces while still enabling high-resolution display output through subsequent data generation and transmission.
2Quantity of substance
If 1-bit per pixel data is stored in microcontroller memory, then memory requirements and cost are reduced, but color representation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static 1-bit pixel storage to dynamic color data generation. The microcontroller dynamically generates RGB color data during the transmission process based on the stored 1-bit pixel information, allowing the system to adapt color representation capabilities without requiring proportional increases in memory capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data parameter from 1-bit per pixel storage to RGB color data transmission. By storing only the essential 1-bit information and then expanding it to full RGB color depth during transmission, the system achieves high color representation with minimal memory requirements, as the color information is generated rather than stored.
3Productivity
If DMA controller and hardware SPI are used to transmit RGB image data, then data transmission speed and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the DMA controller and hardware SPI peripheral that are already present in the microcontroller to perform the data transmission function. Rather than adding separate dedicated transmission hardware, the existing self-service components are utilized to efficiently transmit the generated RGB image data to the display, avoiding additional complexity while maintaining high transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling active matrix displays in an inexpensive manner, in particular with a highly flexible color diversity, includes running a program stored in a program storage device of a microcontroller. The program actuates a DMA controller to read image data of the color depth of 1 bit per pixel from a data storage device, and transmits via the DMA controller an RGB image data set generated by the program therefrom to a hardware SPI connected to the DMA controller. The hardware SPI transmits the RGB image data set to the active matrix display in a serial manner via the data output thereof, wherein in order to synchronize the data transmission to the active matrix display, the SPI clock output controls the pixel clock input of the active matrix display.