TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL DISPLAY ACTIVITY

• US 20120075188A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kwa, Seh W., Ranganathan, Ravi, Shi, Jun, Vasquez, Maximino
• Granted Patent: US 8,941,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/06 using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/14 Use of low voltage differential signaling [LVDS] for display data communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2096 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a flat panel suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006; specific for a CRT G09G1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Techniques are described to transmit commands to a display device during vertical or horizontal blanking intervals. The commands can be transmitted using fields that would otherwise be used to transmit color information. A Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) compliant interface can be used to transmit the commands.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a command during one of a vertical or horizontal blanking interval, the command specified using fields allocated for color data and timing control and

requesting to perform the command based in part on the information in the fields reserved for color data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a command to store a frame in a frame buffer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a command to enter self refresh mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a command to exit self refresh mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a command to perform a partial screen update.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command comprises a command to end performing a partial screen update.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fields allocated for color data comprise fields in a frame specified in Section 3.1.4 of Panel Standardization Working Group'"'"'s Industry Standard Panels for Monitors—

15.0-inch (ISP 15-inch) Mounting and Top Level Interface Requirements (Version 1.1), Mar. 12, 2003.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fields allocated for color data comprise four or more bits.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a command comprises receiving a command using a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) compliant interface.

10. A method comprising:

requesting transmission of a command during one of a vertical or horizontal blanking interval, the command specified using fields allocated for color data and timing control.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises one of a command to store a frame in a frame buffer, a command to enter self refresh mode, and a command to exit self refresh mode and wherein the transmission uses a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) compliant interface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the command comprises one of a command to perform a partial screen update and a command to end performing a partial screen update.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the fields allocated for color data comprise fields in a frame specified in Section 3.1.4 of Panel Standardization Working Group'"'"'s Industry Standard Panels for Monitors—

15.0-inch (ISP 15-inch) Mounting and Top Level Interface Requirements (Version 1.1), Mar. 12, 2003.

14. A system comprising:

at least one antenna;

a display device;

a frame buffer;

a host system; and

an interface between the display device and the host system, the host system comprising;

logic to form a communication for transmission to the display device using the interface, the communication transmitted during one of a vertical or horizontal blanking interval and the communication including a command specified using fields allocated for color data and timing control.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the fields allocated for color data comprise fields in a frame specified in Section 3.1.4 of Panel Standardization Working Group'"'"'s Industry Standard Panels for Monitors—

15.0-inch (ISP 15-inch) Mounting and Top Level Interface Requirements (Version 1.1), Mar. 12, 2003.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the fields allocated for color data comprise at least four bits.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the interface complies at least with Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS).

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the command comprises one of a command to store a frame in a frame buffer, a command to enter self refresh mode, and a command to exit self refresh mode.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the command comprises one of a command to perform a partial screen update and a command to end performing a partial screen update.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising one of a keyboard and touch screen interface.