Scanning Mirror Timing Encoding for Low-Bandwidth Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
In scanning mirror display systems, transmitting both color and timing information uncompressed consumes significant bandwidth and power, complicating system design and silicon design, especially in wearable heads-up displays.
Innovation Solution
The use of a derivative-based encoding scheme to compress timing information, where the first and second derivatives of mirror position as a function of time are encoded using fewer bits, allowing for lossless compression and reduced bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uncompressed timing information is transmitted for each light sample, then timing precision is maintained, but bandwidth consumption and power usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential timing information by computing derivatives (differences) between consecutive light sample timings. Instead of transmitting full timing values, only the changes in timing are transmitted, which captures the necessary precision information while dramatically reducing data volume and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the timing information from absolute values to derivative values (rate of change). By encoding the difference between consecutive timings rather than the timings themselves, the system maintains timing precision while reducing the number of bits required for transmission, thereby lowering power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If uncompressed timing information is transmitted for each light sample, then timing precision is maintained, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential timing information by computing derivatives (differences) between consecutive light sample timings. Instead of transmitting full timing values, only the changes in timing are transmitted, which captures the necessary precision information while dramatically reducing data volume and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the timing information from absolute values to derivative values (rate of change). By encoding the difference between consecutive timings rather than the timings themselves, the system maintains timing precision while reducing the number of bits required for transmission, thereby lowering power consumption.
3Quantity of substance
If derivative-based encoding is used to compress timing information, then bandwidth and power are reduced, but encoding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of timing derivatives before transmission. By pre-calculating the differences between consecutive timings and encoding them in advance, the system reduces the complexity of real-time processing while maintaining compression benefits, effectively preparing the data for efficient transmission.
4Quantity of substance
If derivative-based encoding is used to compress timing information, then bandwidth and power are reduced, but system design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of timing derivatives before transmission. By pre-calculating the differences between consecutive timings and encoding them in advance, the system reduces the complexity of real-time processing while maintaining compression benefits, effectively preparing the data for efficient transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
One example provides, on a scanning mirror display system, a method for communicating timing information for light samples that are scanned to form a displayed image. The method comprises, for a line of light samples, encoding timing information for a first light sample of the line of light samples using a first, greater number of bits to form encoded timing information for the first light sample. The method further comprises encoding timing information for a subsequent light sample of the line of light samples by computing a derivative based upon a timing of the subsequent light sample compared to a prior light sample, encoding the derivative using a second, lesser number of bits to form encoded timing information for the subsequent light sample, and sending the information for the first light sample and the subsequent light sample across the communications channel.