Low Power Symbology Generator for Microdisplay Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing symbology display systems are power-intensive and complex, limiting their feasibility for use in applications such as automotive head-up displays, avionics, consumer eyewear, and medical microscope systems due to their size and interface complexity.
Innovation Solution
A Low Power Symbology Generator (LPSG) with an optimized electronic architecture that includes a microcontroller and FPGA, capable of providing bi-level pixel data and video information to a microdisplay, with features like one-bit symbology blending, address realignment, and caching, allowing for efficient symbology display with reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional symbology display systems are used, then symbology display functionality is achieved, but power consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into two independent buffers: a video buffer for full-resolution video display and a symbology buffer for symbology overlay. This segmentation allows the system to maintain symbology display functionality while reducing overall power consumption by processing and displaying only necessary content in each buffer independently, rather than requiring full-system operation for both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by providing a reduced-resolution symbology display path that operates independently from the full-resolution video path. The symbology buffer can function with lower computational and power requirements, allowing the system to maintain essential symbology display capabilities without the excessive power consumption of traditional full-system operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional symbology display systems are used, then complete display functionality is achieved, but system size and interface complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is divided into separate video processing and symbology processing paths with independent buffers. This segmentation reduces interface complexity by allowing each path to operate independently with simplified interfaces, while maintaining complete display functionality through the combination of both paths. The microcontroller manages both buffers through standardized interfaces, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller is designed with universal functionality to manage both video and symbology buffers through a unified control architecture. This multi-functionality reduces interface complexity by consolidating control functions into a single microcontroller that handles both display types through standardized communication protocols, rather than requiring separate complex interface systems.
3Illumination intensity
If video information is continuously provided, then enhanced display quality is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by allowing the symbology buffer to operate independently of continuous video input. The microcontroller can update symbology data periodically rather than continuously, maintaining display quality for critical information while reducing power consumption during periods when video input is unavailable or when symbology updates are sufficient at lower frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides partial display action by maintaining symbology display functionality even when full video processing is not active. The symbology buffer can continue operating with reduced power requirements, providing essential display information without the excessive power consumption associated with continuous full-resolution video processing and display.
Data Source
AI summary
A display driver includes a symbology generator having an electronic architecture optimized for symbology display, along with an interface to a microdisplay. The interface is configured to operatively couple the symbology generator to the microdisplay, to support a display of symbol objects on the microdisplay. The symbology generator may be a one-bit symbology generator configured to provide bi-level pixel data representing symbology to the microdisplay. The symbology generator may be configured to provide video information to the microdisplay in addition to the bi-level pixel data. The symbology generator may be further configured to coordinate the bi-level pixel data with the video information. The coordination may include various types of blending of the symbology data and the video data, or a hybrid mode where symbology data is applied to one set of pixels of the microdisplay, and video data is applied to another set of pixels of the microdisplay.