Dual-Core Display Controller Internal Data Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional media processing systems face limitations in handling multiple surfaces for composition and suffer from high bandwidth consumption, particularly in portable devices, where reducing external memory reads and writes is crucial to minimize power and heat generation.

Innovation Solution

A dual-core display controller architecture with an internal data path allows for the processing and display of multiple surfaces without writing intermediate results to external memory, using a first display core for local display and a second display core to assist in processing and passing data internally for efficient handling of composited output surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional composition engine processes multiple input surfaces, then composited output surface is generated, but bandwidth consumption increases due to repeated memory reads and writes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of surfaces compositedVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The display controller is divided into multiple display cores (first display core and second display core), each capable of independent surface processing. This segmentation allows the system to process multiple input surfaces in parallel without repeatedly reading from and writing to external memory, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to composite multiple surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second display core acts as an intermediary processing unit that receives input surfaces, performs composition operations, and passes the composited output surface to the first display core for final display. This intermediary structure enables sophisticated surface processing to be performed internally within the display controller without requiring frequent external memory accesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pre-composition is performed for external display, then display requirements are met, but power consumption increases due to additional memory operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay resolution and aspect ratio matchingVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display controller dynamically configures the second display core to perform pre-composition operations only when external display requirements (different resolution or aspect ratio) are detected. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to meet diverse display requirements while minimizing unnecessary processing and memory operations that would increase power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes processing parameters by routing surfaces through the second display core for pre-composition only when external display parameters (resolution, aspect ratio) differ from the local display. This selective parameter change approach ensures that additional processing is performed only when necessary, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adaptability to different display requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If composition engine handles limited surfaces, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to surface processing limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface processing capabilityVSAvoiddisplay controller architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple display cores (first display core for local display and second display core for external display and pre-composition) into a single integrated display controller. This merging approach increases surface processing capability and productivity while avoiding the need for separate processing units, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The second display core is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a display controller for external displays and as a pre-composition engine for surfaces destined for the local display. This universal design increases productivity by enabling sophisticated surface processing without adding dedicated specialized hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10825423B2Display controller

Publication Date: 2020.11.03 ARM LTD

AI summary

A display controller 12 comprises a first display processing core 20 comprising a first input stage 21 operable to read at least one input surface, a first processing stage operable to process one or more input surfaces to generate an output surface, and a first output stage 26 operable to provide an output surface for display to a first display 6, and a second display processing core 40 comprising a second input stage 41 operable to read at least one input surface, a second processing stage operable to process one or more input surfaces to generate an output surface, and a second output stage 46 operable to provide an output surface for display to a second display 8. The display controller 12 also comprises an internal data path 30 for passing pixel data of an output surface from the second display core 40 to the first display core 20.