Single Display Controller for Multi-Unit Image Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for outputting images on multiple display units are complex and require multiple display controllers, which are costly and inefficient, especially when dealing with different display technologies or image sizes.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that use a processing unit to generate and manage images for multiple display units, allowing a single display controller to handle multiple units by converting image data and synchronization signals, and storing images in memory to ensure continuous, flicker-free display, with the option to use an FPGA for parallel processing and LVDS for interference-free data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple display controllers are used to manage multiple display units, then each display unit can be controlled independently, but the electronic complexity and system cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single display controller is designed to universally support multiple display units with different technologies (LCD, OLED, etc.) and different sizes by implementing a standardized interface and adaptive image processing capabilities that can handle various display parameters dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The controller divides the image data stream into separate channels for different display units, using virtual channels to route appropriate image portions to each display unit while maintaining independent control over timing and synchronization parameters
2Productivity
If image data is transmitted to multiple display units simultaneously, then all displays can show content at the same time, but data transmission complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic transmission of image data in virtual channels, where complete image frames are transmitted sequentially to different display units in a round-robin fashion, synchronized with the display refresh rates to ensure continuous updating without requiring all data to be held in memory simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual channels act as intermediary data structures that buffer and manage image data for different display units, allowing the controller to transmit data efficiently by switching between virtual channels based on which display unit needs updating at any given moment
Data Source
AI summary
A device for outputting different images on at least two display units includes a control unit for reading image data of the different images from an image memory, for producing a horizontal synchronization signal and for outputting the image data and the horizontal synchronization signal. The device also includes a processing unit for receiving the image data and the horizontal synchronization signal, for producing additional synchronization signals respectively for one of the at least two display units as a function of the synchronization signal provided by the control unit and a clock signal, and for dividing the image data transmitted by the control unit in such a way that the image data of the different images are output to one of the display units.