Timing Controller Ping-Pong Buffer for Electronic Paper Touch Response

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic paper display devices with touch handwriting functions face delays in responding to user input due to high image processing requirements and computing resources, leading to suboptimal display effects.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a timing controller with a ping-pong buffer architecture, including first and second image buffer memories and an update buffer memory, allows for staggered video stream reception and simultaneous updating of touch track data, enabling timely and efficient display of handwriting on the electronic paper display panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the host device performs track drawing operation on display screen data, then the touch handwriting function can be implemented, but the image processing time and computing resources required are excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch handwriting functionVSAvoidimage processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the track drawing operation from the host device and relocates it to the timing controller. The timing controller receives touch track data from the touch panel and directly performs track drawing on the display screen data stored in its internal buffer, eliminating the need for the host device to process this data. This extraction of the specific function to the most appropriate location resolves the contradiction by enabling touch handwriting functionality while minimizing image processing time and host device computational burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the host device performs track drawing operation, then touch handwriting function is available, but the electronic paper display panel cannot respond to touch in time due to driving period requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch handwriting functionVSAvoidresponse speed to touch

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the track drawing operation from the host device and relocates it to the timing controller. The timing controller receives touch track data from the touch panel and directly performs track drawing on the display screen data stored in its internal buffer, eliminating the need for the host device to process this data. This extraction of the specific function to the most appropriate location resolves the contradiction by enabling touch handwriting functionality while minimizing image processing time and host device computational burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The timing controller maintains a buffer storing display screen data in advance. When touch track data is received, the track drawing operation can be performed immediately on the pre-stored display screen data without waiting for the host device to provide it. This preliminary preparation of display data enables the timing controller to respond to touch input in real-time, overcoming the delay caused by the electrophoresis driving period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If video stream is received and processed through host device, then display content can be updated, but the processing complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay content update capabilityVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing tasks between the host device and the timing controller. The host device is responsible for providing video stream data, while the timing controller independently handles buffer management, track drawing operations, and display screen data generation. This segmentation allows the timing controller to perform updates using its internal buffer and resources, reducing the processing complexity and time consumption on the host device while maintaining full display content update capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11551626B2Electronic paper display device and operation method thereof

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 E INK HLDG INC

AI summary

An electronic paper display device and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic paper display device includes an electronic paper display panel and a timing controller. The timing controller includes a first image buffer memory, a second image buffer memory, and an update buffer memory. The timing controller receives a touch track data. The first image buffer memory and the second image buffer memory are a ping-pong buffer architecture, and receive a video stream in staggered timing. The second image buffer memory receives the touch track data and simultaneously updates a current display screen data stored in the update buffer memory when the first image buffer memory receives the video stream to update the current display screen data into the update buffer memory. The timing controller drives the electronic paper display panel according to the current display screen data.