Interface between a base module and a detachable faceplate in an in-dash automotive accessory
First Claim
1. A faceplate that is detachable from a base module of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate comprising:
- a graphical display element having an array of at least 10,000 selectable pixels;
a data interface connected to receive pixel data in a serial-bit format from the base module.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein is an in-dash automotive accessory having a detachable faceplate with a keypad and a medium resolution color graphics display. The graphic display has a rectangular array of addressable pixels. A serial interface is used to transfer data to and from the faceplate. Although the serial interface has a clock rate of only 7.5 MHz, it allows refreshing of a 64×256 pixel display panel at a 70 Hz pixel refresh rate. This is accomplished through a variety of techniques, including the use of efficient command code protocol, by packing or compressing pixel intensity data, and by double buffering incoming control messages.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A faceplate that is detachable from a base module of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate comprising:
-
a graphical display element having an array of at least 10,000 selectable pixels; a data interface connected to receive pixel data in a serial-bit format from the base module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of receiving pixel data in a detachable faceplate of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate having a graphical display element with an array of individually addressable pixels and having a data interface with a serial receive line, a serial transmit line, and a synchronize line, the method comprising the following steps:
-
detecting a synchronize signal on the synchronize line; in response to the synchronize signal on the synchronize line, detecting a sequence of command code bits on the serial receive line; after detecting the sequence of command code bits, detecting a sequence of data bits on the serial receive line; sending logical false bits on the serial transmit line while detecting the sequence of command code bits and the sequence of data bits; sending one or more logical true bits on the serial transmit line after detecting the sequence of data bits. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A method of sending pixel data to a detachable faceplate of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate having a graphical display element with an array of individually addressable pixels and having a data interface with a serial receive line, a serial transmit line, and a synchronize line, the method comprising the following steps:
-
sending a synchronize signal on the synchronize line; sending a sequence of command code bits on the serial receive line; sending a sequence of data bits on the serial receive line; receiving logical false bits on the serial transmit line while sending the sequence of command code bits and the sequence of data bits; sending a parity bit on the serial receive line after sending the sequence of command code bits; receiving an error-detected bit on the serial transmit line that indicates whether there was an error receiving the command code bits or the data bits.
-
-
24. A method of receiving and responding to commands in a detachable faceplate of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate having a graphical display element with an array of individually addressable pixels and having a data interface with a serial receive line, a serial transmit line, and a synchronize line, the method comprising the following steps:
-
detecting a synchronize signal on the synchronize line; in response to the synchronize signal on the synchronize line, detecting a sequence of command code bits on the serial receive line; sending logical false bits on the serial transmit line while detecting the sequence of command code bits; sending a logical true bit on the serial transmit line indicating that read data will follow; sending a sequence of read data bits on the serial transmit line in response to a command specified by the command code bits. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
26. A method of sending commands to and receiving responses from a detachable faceplate of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate having a graphical display element with an array of individually addressable pixels and having a data interface with a serial receive line, a serial transmit line, and a synchronize line, the method comprising the following steps:
-
sending a synchronize signal on the synchronize line; sending a sequence of command code bits on the serial receive line; receiving logical false bits on the serial transmit line while sending the sequence of command code bits; detecting a logical true bit on the serial transmit line indicating that read data will follow from the detachable faceplate; detecting a sequence of read data bits on the serial transmit line. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
-
28. A faceplate that is detachable from a base module of an in-dash automotive accessory, the faceplate comprising:
-
a graphical display element having an array of individually selectable pixels; a display controller associated with the graphical display element; a data interface connected to receive commands from the base module and to send data to the base module; a keypad; a faceplate control register; faceplate logic that is responsive to commands from the base module; the faceplate logic being response to a status read command to return faceplate status data to the base module; the faceplate logic being responsive to a keypad read command to return keypad data to the base module; the faceplate logic being responsive to a display controller read command to return display controller data to the base module; the faceplate logic being responsive to a control register write command to write faceplate control register data; the faceplate logic being responsive to a display controller write command to write display controller data; the faceplate logic being responsive to an address write command to write address data to the display controller; the faceplate logic being responsive to a pixel write command to write pixel data to the display controller.
-
-
29. In an in-dash automotive accessory having a base module and a detachable faceplate, the faceplate having a graphical display element with an array of at least 10,000 individually selectable pixels, a method of communicating between the base module and the faceplate, the method comprising the following steps:
-
sending control messages from the base module to the detachable faceplate in a serial-bit format, the control messages containing pixel intensity words; receiving the control messages at the faceplate; translating the pixel intensity words to a bit-parallel format that is expected by a display controller associated with the graphical display element. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification