N-bit Video Data Transmission Over Serial Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial link technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting N-bit video data over a serial link, particularly in maintaining synchronization and handling arbitrary pixel and blanking counts that are not exact multiples of the packing group size, while minimizing bandwidth waste.
Innovation Solution
A transmitter packs N-bit video data into K-bit fragments and transmits these fragments over a serial link, with a receiver configured to deserialize and decode the fragments, ensuring synchronization by using phase information to unpack the data exactly at the original pixel rate, and supporting various color depth modes without wasting bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If N-bit video data is transmitted using conventional serial link technologies, then the transmission can be performed, but synchronization is difficult to maintain and bandwidth efficiency decreases when pixel and blanking counts are not exact multiples of the packing group size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments N-bit video data into fixed-size packing groups (e.g., 4-pixel groups for 10-bit color depth) that can be systematically packed into transmission fragments. This segmentation allows the receiver to reliably reconstruct the original data by processing complete groups, maintaining synchronization even when total pixel counts are not exact multiples of the group size, as incomplete groups are handled through defined protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter performs preliminary packing of N-bit video data into standardized fragments before transmission, organizing data into complete packing groups. This preliminary organization ensures that the receiver can efficiently unpack data at the correct rate without complex real-time synchronization logic, as the grouping structure is established in advance and communicated through fragment headers.
2Productivity
If N-bit video data is packed into fixed-size fragments for transmission, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but handling arbitrary pixel counts that are not multiples of the packing group size becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control fields within the fragment structure that allow the packing group size and composition to be adjusted based on the specific video data being transmitted. These dynamic fields enable the system to handle arbitrary pixel counts by modifying the packing configuration on-the-fly, rather than being constrained to fixed group sizes, thus reducing complexity for handling non-multiple pixel counts while maintaining high bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as packing group size, fragment structure, and transmission rate based on the specific color depth mode and pixel count requirements. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes bandwidth efficiency for each scenario while simplifying the packing logic, as the parameters are selected to match the data characteristics rather than forcing data to fit rigid structures.
3Speed
If the transmitter transmits at a rate higher than the original pixel clock to accommodate N-bit data, then all N-bit data can be transmitted, but the receiver must complexly recover the original pixel clock rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the transmitter communicates transmission rate information and packing configuration details to the receiver through dedicated control channels or fragment headers. This feedback allows the receiver to accurately determine the transmitted data rate and apply the correct decimation factor to recover the original pixel clock rate, eliminating the need for complex blind clock recovery algorithms while maintaining high transmission speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary control data structures (such as fragment headers and mode indicators) that carry information about the transmission rate and packing configuration. These intermediaries act as mediators between the transmitter and receiver, providing the receiver with the necessary information to simplify clock recovery by directly computing the original pixel clock rate from the known transmission parameters rather than using complex signal processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a receiver, a TMDS link (or other serial link), and a transmitter configured to transmit K-bit video words (typically, encoded 8-bit video words) over the link. In typical embodiments, the transmitter is configured to pack a sequence of N-bit video words, where N≠K (e.g., N=10, 12, or 16, when K=8) into a sequence of K-bit fragments, encode the fragments, and transmit the encoded fragments. The transmitted data are indicative of a sequence of M-fragment groups, and the transmitter is typically configured also to transmit over the link packing phase data indicative of the phase of the most recently transmitted fragment. Other aspects are transmitters and receivers for use in such a system and methods implemented by any such transmitter, receiver, or system.