NFC Emission Timing Staggering to Prevent Display Muras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio frequency signals, such as near-field communication (NFC) waves, interfere with the electrical energy stored in display pixels of electronic devices, causing perceivable artifacts like muras during the refresh period, which affects the image quality.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting the timing of NFC electromagnetic wave emission periods to minimize overlap with the refresh periods of the electronic display, and optionally adjusting the refresh rate or duration of blanking periods to reduce the impact of NFC waves on display pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If NFC electromagnetic waves are emitted during normal operation, then wireless communication functionality is enabled, but display artifacts (muras) appear due to interference with display pixel electrical energy
Solution Approach 1:
The NFC module operates in periodic emission periods rather than continuously, synchronizing these periods with the display's blanking periods. This periodic operation allows wireless communication functionality to be maintained while preventing interference during the display refresh periods when pixels are being updated with electrical energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively schedules NFC emission periods to occur during known blanking periods of the display refresh cycle. By planning and executing NFC emissions in advance during safe time windows, the system prevents interference before it can occur during critical display pixel energy storage operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If NFC emission periods are synchronized with display blanking periods, then display artifacts are reduced, but timing coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timing control of the NFC module is merged with the display refresh timing signal. By using the display's existing blanking period timing as the reference for NFC emission scheduling, the system achieves synchronization without requiring completely independent timing coordination mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the display refresh signal to dynamically control NFC emission timing. The display timing controller provides timing information about blanking periods to the NFC module, enabling automatic synchronization that adapts to varying display refresh rates and reduces manual timing coordination complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If display refresh rate is increased, then image quality is improved, but overlap between NFC emission and refresh periods increases causing more artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The NFC emission period duration and timing are made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts NFC emission parameters based on the actual display refresh rate and blanking period duration, allowing optimal synchronization at various refresh rates. This dynamic adaptation enables high refresh rates for image quality while maintaining artifact-free operation through flexible timing adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively mitigates the appearance of display artifacts by ensuring that NFC waves do not interfere with the refresh process, thereby improving the perceived image quality on electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a radio frequency (RF) module (e.g., near-field communication (NFC) module) may be implemented by the electronic device to output a radio frequency signal, such as an NFC electromagnetic wave
Implementation Method 2
the electromagnetic waves may affect the image data signal and/or electrical energy stored in one or more display pixels
Data Source
AI summary
Display artifacts, such as muras, may be perceptible on an electronic display when an electronic device includes a radio frequency transceiver that outputs electromagnetic waves during an emission period and a display panel that writes to display pixels during a refresh period. The electronic device may also include a controller that is coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and the display panel and facilitates the reduction and/or elimination of overlap between the emission periods and the refresh periods to decrease the appearance of display artifacts. In particular, the controller may execute instructions to determine the duration of the emission period and determine the duration of the blanking period that occurs between the refresh periods. Further, based on the determined blanking period and emission period durations, the controller may instruct the radio frequency transceiver to adjust the timing of the first emission period, instruct the display panel to adjust the timing of the refresh rate, or both to reduce overlap.