National Semiconductor Corporation

Donald E Camp

Richard Alexander Erhart

Mark Kuhns

Bruce C Moore

Christopher A Ludden

Arif Alam

Randy J Dahl

Osama F Alborno

An exemplary point-to-point display system comprises a host system, a timing controller, and a display. The host system is configured to provide data for display. The timing controller is configurable to provide data swapping, bus swapping, bit swapping, and combinations thereof to provide arranged data in response to the provided data. The display is configured to display the arranged data.

Point-to-point display system having configurable connections

A false DE rejection system is described. DEs are ignored during a programmable vertical lockout period. Internal timing is used during the vertical lockout period to count the number of vertical lines to ignore. The first DE received after the vertical lockout period signifies the start of the next graphics frame. Default video is output during the vertical lockout period. The TCON is synchronized to the start of the graphics frame. A horizontal line length timer measures the timing for the horizontal line length. The horizontal line length timer may also keep a moving average of all of the lines that it has measured. This helps to ensure that the TCON does not get out-of-sync with the input stream during the vertical blanking periods. The DE rejection system includes automatic blanking detection that ignores DEs that occur after the end of a predetermined graphics frame. The vertical lockout does not occur until there has been no DE for an entire line.

Application and method for rejection of a false data enable signal during vertical blanking periods in a graphics system

The present invention is related to staggering data to reduce noise in a graphics display system. Line-to-line data staggering is achieved by staggering the starting point at which data is transmitted within each line of data. Frame-to-frame staggering is implemented by staggering the starting point of the first line of data from its value in the previous frame by a predetermined value each frame. Alternatively, frame-to-frame data staggering can be performed every other frame instead of every frame.

Method and apparatus for reducing noise in a graphics display system

The present invention provides a point-to-point data bus architecture and a protocol for a graphics system. The TCON transmits the data to the column drivers using separate point-to-point data buses. Data may be transmitted to the column drivers during a horizontal blanking period resulting in more data being written to the column drivers as compared to a typical graphical display system. As each point-to-point data bus contains only the data for its corresponding column driver the instantaneous data rate to any column driver is lower than in conventional multi-drop architectures. The point-to-point system has fewer printed circuit board (PCB) lines and a lower loop area than a conventional multi-drop system. A protocol may also be implemented. The protocol may provide for system level control and coordination of column drivers and other display system components. This protocol allows the TCON to control the operation of the column drivers without the need for extra PCB lines.

Data bus system and protocol for graphics displays

An improved memory for graphics displays includes an improved memory cell. Data may be written and read from the single bit cell simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional memory circuits to service an N column driver for a display. Additionally, the architecture of the memory allows for a signal input port for writing the data to the cell while allowing for multiple parallel output ports for reading the data. The unique architecture eliminates the need for addressing logic and refresh circuitry for display applications.

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Peoria, AZ, United States of America

Donald E Camp