Display interference mitigation systems and methods

• US 10,134,349 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Rui, Xing, Guangmao, Sacchetto, Paolo, Devincentis, Marc Joseph, Liang, Anshi, Yao, Weijun, Youn, Sang Y., Nho, Hyunwoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Marinelli, Patrick F
• Application Number:
  US15/498,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20180158386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/061 for resetting or blanking
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/08 Details of timing specific for flat panels, other than clock recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/06 Handling electromagnetic interferences [EMI], covering emitted as well as received electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3225 using an active matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2215/064 Reduction of clock or synthesizer reference frequency harmonics

Abstract

Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices with displays. A display may include an array of display pixels and control circuitry for operating the display. In some scenarios, interference signals from other components of the electronic device or additional external devices can couple to the control circuitry for the display and cause distortions in displayed data. Display frames may be displayed by an electronic device display with a varying phase. The varying phase display frames may each include a distortion pattern that also varies from frame to frame due to the varying phase. The varying distortion patterns may average out or visibly cancel when viewed by a user such that no visible artifact of the interference signal is seen by the user. The varying phase can be actively tuned to the interference signal if desired.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a display; and

control circuitry configured to;

operate the display to display first, second, and third consecutive display frames,

wherein the first display frame and the third display frame have common frame time,

wherein the second display frame has a frame time that is different from the common frame time of the first display frame and the third display frame, and

wherein the frame time of the second display frame is configured to generate a compensation distortion pattern in the second display frame to compensate for a distortion pattern in the first and third display frames, the distortion pattern and the compensation distortion pattern caused by an interference signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a wireless charging signal from a wireless charger for charging the battery, and wherein the interference signal is associated with the wireless charging signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the display comprises at least one data line coupled to a plurality of display pixels and wherein the interference signal comprises a portion of the wireless charging signal inductively coupled to the at least one data line.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the common frame time of each of the first and third display frames comprises a vertical blanking period that is longer than a vertical blanking period of the second display frame.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and third display frames each have a line time that is longer than a line time of the second display frame.

6. A method, comprising:

operating an electronic device display to display first, second, and third consecutive display frames,

wherein the first display frame and the third display frame have common frame time,

wherein the second display frame has a frame time that is different from the common frame time of the first display frame and the third display frame,

wherein the first and third display frames include a distortion pattern caused by an interference signal, and

wherein the second display frame includes a distortion pattern that is equal and opposite to the distortion pattern of the first and third display frames.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein operating the electronic device display comprises providing, from display control circuitry to an array of display pixels, display data for the first, second, and third display frames that does not include the distortion pattern or the equal and opposite distortion pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the display data comprises providing the display data with a nominal frame time, wherein the common frame time of the first and third display frames is different from the nominal frame time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame time of the second display frame is different from the nominal frame time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame time of the second display frame is shorter than the nominal frame time by a first amount of time and the common frame time of the first and third display frames is longer than the nominal frame time by a second amount of time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first amount of time is equal to the second amount of time.