Multi-touch Interface Data Segmentation for Low Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display interface standards, such as DisplayPort and Embedded DisplayPort, face challenges in efficiently managing and processing multi-touch data, particularly in supporting high sample rates and maintaining low latency, which is essential for responsive touch-sensitive interfaces in devices like smartphones and tablets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-touch display interface system that utilizes a touch source and touch sink configuration, where the touch source processes and interprets touch data using a parser and interpreter module, and the touch sink captures and formats data using touch sensors, with mechanisms like interrupt-based and polled data access methods to ensure high-bandwidth and low-latency data transfer, supporting sample rates up to 50 Hz.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DisplayPort protocol uses packetized data transmission with embedded clock, then interface extensibility is improved, but data transmission efficiency for multi-touch data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into two distinct channels: a high-speed uncompressed video channel for visual output and a separate audio channel for touch data. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific purposes, with the audio channel handling multi-touch data at high sample rates without being constrained by the video channel's compression requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives compressed video data from the DisplayPort interface, decompresses it, and then repackages the audio components into a separate transmission path. This intermediary process enables efficient multi-touch data transmission by separating the audio stream from the video stream, allowing high sample rate transmission without compromising interface extensibility.
2Measurement precision
If touch data is transmitted at high sample rates, then touch response accuracy is improved, but transmission latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing and buffering touch data in the audio channel before transmission. The system anticipates the need for high sample rate transmission by preparing the audio stream in advance, allowing the touch data to be transmitted at high rates without introducing latency. The audio channel's inherent timing characteristics are utilized to synchronize touch data transmission with display refresh cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action by synchronizing touch data transmission with the display refresh rate. The audio channel transmits touch data in periodic intervals that align with video frame boundaries, creating a rhythm that eliminates latency. This periodic transmission pattern ensures that touch data is always available for the next display cycle, maintaining high sample rates while preventing latency accumulation.
3Productivity
If separate audio channel is added for touch data, then data transmission bandwidth is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the audio channel serve multiple functions: it transports audio data for the display, simultaneously carries multi-touch data from the touch sensor, and provides synchronization signals. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high data transmission bandwidth without adding separate dedicated channels for each data type, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the audio data transmission and touch data transmission into a single audio channel. By combining these functions, the system achieves high bandwidth for both data types without requiring separate physical channels. The merging process uses protocol-level separation within the audio channel to distinguish between audio samples and touch data, providing efficient transmission while minimizing interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods are described including using a Human Interface Device (HID) source device to configure a HID sink device to provide interface data such as multi-touch data. The HID source device may enable a data module in the HID sink device to generate the interface data. After receiving the interface data the HID source device may generate output data and provide the output data to the HID sink device.