Packed Frame Video Controller for Multiple Asymmetrical Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display management technologies face challenges in efficiently managing multiple video display devices with different resolutions over a single display port, leading to increased complexity and costs due to the need for multiple serializers/deserializers and larger frame buffers.
Innovation Solution
A video controller and method that generate and transmit packed frames with padded and interleaved scanlines, allowing multiple asymmetrical display devices to be driven from a single display port, reducing the need for multiple serializers/deserializers and minimizing frame buffer requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple serializers/deserializers are used to drive multiple display devices with different resolutions, then display capability and resolution support are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple display streams into a single packed frame that is transmitted through one serializer. The frame generator creates a packed frame containing scanlines for multiple display devices with different resolutions, merging what would traditionally require separate serializers into a single data stream that is then unpacked at the display device side.
Solution Approach 2:
The single display port and serializer are designed to universally support multiple display devices with different resolutions by using a packed frame format that can accommodate varying display requirements. This multi-functional approach allows one serializer to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated serializers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple serializers/deserializers are used to manage multiple display devices, then resolution support is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple display data streams into a single packed frame transmitted through one serializer, reducing the number of expensive serializer components needed. This consolidation directly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining support for multiple resolutions through the packed frame unpacking mechanism.
3Quantity of substance
If larger frame buffers are used to support multiple display devices, then display memory capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame buffer requirements by using smaller individual frame buffers at each display device rather than one large centralized buffer. Each display device has its own frame buffer that receives only the relevant scanlines after unpacking, reducing the total memory capacity and complexity compared to a single large buffer system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of data organization by transmitting data in a packed format that interleaves scanlines from multiple displays, then unpacking at the receiving end. This dimensional reorganization allows efficient memory usage where each display device only needs to buffer its own frame data rather than sharing a large common buffer.
4Device complexity
If a single display port is used to drive multiple display devices, then device complexity is reduced, but data transmission rate requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by transmitting packed frames at a high rate that is a multiple of the individual display refresh rates. This allows the single serializer to handle multiple displays by transmitting data in periodic bursts that can be unpacked and distributed to the appropriate displays at their respective refresh rates.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus for communicating video data in packed frames are described. The video data corresponds to multiple asymmetrical display devices, and the packed frames are transmitted through a single display port. In one example a method includes receiving video data targeted to multiple display devices, the data for each display being provided as a set of scanlines for display at a first clock rate, inserting padded scanlines into the set of scanlines to obtain a padded set of scanlines that includes the same number of scanlines a second display device, generating a packed frame by combining the padded set of scanlines with the set of scanlines corresponding to the second display device, and transmitting the packed frame over a communication link. The display devices may have different resolutions. The location of each padded scanline in the padded set of scanlines is identified by configuration information.