TW201508733A - Display device and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device is suitable for electrically connecting to a graphic processing unit and includes a display, a timing controller and a frame buffer. During a panel self refresh mode, the timing controller determines whether to extract a valid data corresponding to a first video frame in a predetermined time when receiving a wake-up signal. When the valid data is extracted in the predetermined time and a time point for the valid data to be extracted is in a vertical blank period of a frame period, the timing controller executes an exit operation or at least one update operation for the frame buffer. When the valid data is extracted in the predetermined time and the time point for the valid data to be extracted is not in the vertical blank period, the timing controller determines whether a second video frame is received so as to determine whether to transmit a reset signal to the graphic processing unit.

Description

Display device and method of operation thereof

The present invention relates to a display device and a method of operating the same, and more particularly to a display device having a self-renewal mode and a method of operating the same.

Most existing display devices use Panel Self Refresh (PSR) technology to reduce power consumption. The panel self-updating technology is a front-end graphics processing unit (GPU) that determines whether the current video frame is stationary, and switches the timing controller in the display device according to the state of the video screen. To a self-updating mode or a normal display mode.

On the transmission of the video picture, the transmitter in the graphics processing unit transmits the picture data to the receiver in the timing controller through a main channel. In addition, when the timing controller is switched to the self-updating mode, the main channel is turned off, and the receiver in the timing controller and the transmitter in the graphics processing unit turn off most of the power to achieve power saving. On the other hand, when the timing controller is to enter an update operation or an exit operation in the self-updating mode, the reception in the timing controller The transmitter in the graphics and graphics processing unit will restore power and re-establish the connection to achieve line recovery. In this way, the timing controller can retrieve the update command or the exit command from the main channel, and then perform the corresponding update operation or exit operation.

However, the operation of line recovery is very susceptible to noise. Therefore, if the line recovery condition is too slow, the timing controller cannot obtain or can not parse the update command or the exit command from the main channel, thereby causing the display device to malfunction.

The present invention provides a display device and an operation method thereof, which utilizes valid data from a graphics processing unit and a time point at which valid data is retrieved to determine whether the picture material from the graphics processing unit can be completely processed. Thereby, the malfunction of the display device can be reduced.

The display device of the present invention is adapted to electrically connect a graphics processing unit for generating a first video frame and a second video frame, and the display device comprises a display, a timing controller and a picture buffer. The timing controller is electrically connected to the graphics processing unit and the display. The picture buffer is electrically connected to the timing controller. In the self-updating mode, when the timing controller receives the wake-up signal, the timing controller determines whether the valid data corresponding to the first video frame is captured within a preset time. When the valid data is captured within the preset time, and the time point of capturing the valid data is within the vertical blank interval in one picture period, the timing controller performs an exit operation or buffers the picture. The device performs at least one update operation. When the valid data is captured within the preset time, and the time point of capturing the valid data is not in the vertical blank interval, the timing controller determines whether the second video screen is received to determine whether to transmit the reset signal to the graphics processing. unit.

The method of operating the display device of the present invention includes the following steps. In the self-updating mode, when the wake-up signal is received, it is determined whether the valid data corresponding to the first video picture is captured within a preset time. When the valid data is captured within the preset time, and the time point of capturing the valid data is within the vertical blank interval in a picture period, at least one update operation or exit operation is performed. When the valid data is captured within the preset time, and the time point of capturing the valid data is not within the vertical blank interval, it is determined whether the second video screen is received to determine whether to transmit the reset signal to the graphics processing unit.

Based on the above, in the self-updating mode, the timing controller of the present invention uses the valid data from the graphics processing unit and the point in time at which the valid data is retrieved to determine whether the picture material from the graphics processing unit can be completely processed. In this way, although the timing controller does not capture the update/exit command in time, the timing controller can still perform the corresponding update/exit operation, or use the reset signal to reset the timing controller and the graphics processing unit. The connection between the two further reduces the malfunction of the display device.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100‧‧‧ display device

110‧‧‧Sequence Controller

120‧‧‧ Picture buffer

130‧‧‧ display

111‧‧‧ Receiver

112‧‧‧Screen Control Unit

113‧‧‧Multiple units

101‧‧‧Graphic Processing Unit

102‧‧‧transmitter

CH1‧‧‧ main channel

CH2‧‧‧ subsidiary channel

DS1, DS2‧‧‧ picture data stream

S11‧‧‧ wake up signal

S12‧‧‧Reset signal

DI, DI1~DI5‧‧‧Screen data from the graphics processing unit

DO, DO1~DO3‧‧‧Screen data from the picture buffer

Mod1‧‧‧ normal display mode

Mod2‧‧‧ self-updating mode

T1~t5‧‧‧ time point

Up‧‧‧ update operation

Ex‧‧‧Exit operation

S310~S330, S341~S343, S350, S360, S371~S373, S380, S390‧‧‧ are used to explain the steps of the embodiment of Fig. 3

1 is a block diagram of a display device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a timing diagram of data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation method of a display device according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 is a timing diagram of timing controllers transferring data to a display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a display device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 further illustrates a graphics processing unit 101 to which the display device 100 is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 100 includes a timing controller 110, a frame buffer 120, and a display 130. The timing controller 110 is electrically connected to the graphics processing unit 101, and the screen buffer 120 and the display 130 are electrically connected to the timing controller 110.

The timing controller 110 includes a receiver 111, a picture control unit 112, and a multiplex unit 113. The receiver 111 is electrically connected to the transmitter 102 in the graphics processing unit 101 through a primary channel CH1 and an accessory channel CH2. The picture control unit 112 is electrically connected to the picture buffer 120 and the receiver 111. The multiplex unit 113 is electrically connected to the picture control unit 112, the receiver 111, and the display 130. It is worth mentioning that the main channel CH1 is used to transmit the picture data stream DS1, the update command and the exit command, etc., and the auxiliary channel CH2 is used to transmit the general control signal (for example) For example, wake up signal S11).

In operation, the graphics processing unit 101 can transmit a video picture in each frame period, and each video picture includes a picture data DI to form a picture data stream DS1. In addition, the timing controller 110 receives the picture data stream DS1 through the receiver 111 and generates a corresponding picture data stream DS2 to the display 130. Thereby, the driving circuit in the display 130 can drive the display panel in the display 130 according to the picture data in the picture data stream DS2, thereby causing the display 130 to display the corresponding image. In addition, the graphics processing unit 101 detects the state of the video screen to switch the timing controller 110 to a normal display mode or a self-updating mode.

In the normal display mode, the timing controller 110 receives the picture material DI from the graphics processing unit 101 through the receiver 111. In addition, the timing controller 110 transmits the picture material DI from the graphics processing unit 101 to the display 130 through the multiplexing unit 113 to form a picture data stream DS2. In contrast, in the self-updating mode, the timing controller 110 reads the picture data DO in the picture buffer 120 through the picture control unit 112, and transmits the picture data DO from the picture buffer 120 to the display through the multiplexing unit 113. 130, to form a picture data stream DS2.

For example, FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, before the time point t1 and after the time point t5, the timing controller 110 is in the normal display mode Mod1. Therefore, during this period, the graphics processing unit 101 transfers the picture data DI1, DI2, DI5 to the timing controller 110, and the timing controller 110 outputs the picture data DI1, DI2, DI5 accordingly. Also, at the time Between t1 and t5, the timing controller 110 is in the self-updating mode Mod2. Therefore, during this period, the timing controller 110 reads the picture data DO1 to DO3 from the picture buffer 120 and outputs the picture data DO1 to DO3.

It is worth mentioning that when it is detected that the video picture is mostly stationary, the graphics processing unit 101 will cause the timing controller 110 to switch to the self-updating mode Mod2. In addition, when the timing controller 110 enters the self-updating mode Mod2, the graphics processing unit 101 transmits only the corresponding picture data to the timing controller 110 for some sporadic video pictures. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, between time points t1 and t5, the graphics processing unit 101 transmits only the picture data DI3 and DI4, and stops transmitting the picture material most of the time. In other words, in the self-updating mode Mod2, the graphics processing unit 101 is mostly maintained in a state in which the transmission of the picture material is stopped, so that the purpose of reducing the power consumption can be achieved.

On the other hand, for the picture data transmitted by the graphics processing unit 101 in the self-updating mode, the timing controller 110 correspondingly performs an update operation or an exit operation to store new picture material or perform timing bonding. In contrast, in the self-updating mode, the auxiliary channel CH2 will always have power, and the power of the main channel CH1 will be turned on only when the timing controller 110 is to enter an update operation or an exit operation.

In order to make those skilled in the art have a better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an operation method of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the detailed operation of the display device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

The initial environment of the flowchart of Figure 3 is that the timing controller 110 is in self-more Under the new mode. As shown in step S310, in the self-updating mode, the timing controller 110 can receive the wake-up signal S11 from the graphics processing unit 101 to prepare for the update operation Up or the exit operation Ex. After receiving the wake-up signal S11, as shown in step S320, the timing controller 110 determines whether the valid data corresponding to the first video frame is captured within a preset time. The preset time may be, for example, 1.5 times of a picture period.

If the timing controller 110 can capture the valid data within the preset time, as shown in step S330, the timing controller 110 determines whether the time point at which the valid data is captured is a vertical blank interval in a picture period (vertical Within blank period). Among them, please refer to the timing diagram of the timing controller of Figure 4 to transfer the data to the display to see the definition of the vertical blank interval. As shown in FIG. 4, a picture period includes a vertical blank period, a plurality of horizontal blank periods, and a plurality of horizontal active periods. The plurality of horizontal active periods are used to transmit display materials required for driving the display 130, so that the set of the plurality of horizontal display periods can obtain an active frame area.

Referring to FIG. 3, if the time point of capturing the valid data is within the vertical blank interval in a picture period, the representative timing controller 110 can completely process the picture data subsequently transmitted by the graphics processing unit 101, so the timing is The controller 110 will perform an exit operation or perform at least one update operation on the picture buffer 120. For example, when the time point of capturing the valid data is within the vertical blank interval, as shown in step S341, the timing controller 110 may determine whether to retrieve the exit command or the first update command. When extracting an exit command or a first update command At the same time, as shown in step S342, the timing controller 110 will perform an exit operation according to the exit command or perform a first update operation on the screen buffer 120 according to the first update command.

Taking FIG. 2 as an example, when the timing controller 110 enters the self-updating mode Mod2, the graphics processing unit 101 transmits an update command at time t2, and then transmits the picture material DI3. If the timing controller 110 has retrieved the update command, the timing controller 110 will perform the update operation Up between time points t2 and t3. At this time, the timing controller 110 updates the screen material DO1 in the screen buffer 120 previously stored by the screen material DI3. In contrast, between time points t3 and t4, the picture data DO2 read by the timing controller 110 from the picture buffer 120 is the picture material DI3 transmitted by the graphics processing unit 101.

In addition, when it is detected that the video picture is constantly changing, the graphics processing unit 101 attempts to switch the timing controller 110 from the self-updating mode to the normal display mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the graphics processing unit 101 transmits an exit command at time t4 and then transmits the picture material DI4. In contrast, if the timing controller 110 has retrieved the exit command, the timing controller 110 will execute the exit operation Ex between time points t4 and t5. At this time, the timing controller 110 combines the timing of the picture material DI4 from the graphics processing unit 101 with the timing of the picture data D03 output by the picture buffer 120 by the exit operation Ex, so that the timing controller 110 can proceed. Switch to the normal display mode Mod1.

It is worth noting that even if the timing point at which the timing controller 110 retrieves the valid data is within the vertical blank interval in a picture period, the exit command or the first An update command may still be missed by the timing controller 110. Therefore, when the exit command or the first update command is not captured, as shown in step S343, the timing controller 110 directly performs a first update operation on the screen buffer 120 to display the screen data corresponding to the first video screen. It is stored in the picture buffer 120.

After the first update operation is directly performed on the picture buffer 120, as shown in step S350, the timing controller 110 determines whether the second video picture is received. If the timing controller 110 does not receive the second video frame, the representative graphics processing unit 101 stops transmitting the picture after transmitting the first video picture, so the timing controller 110 at this time only needs to perform the first update operation in step S343. can. Therefore, when the timing controller 110 does not receive the second video screen, as shown in step S360, the timing controller 110 will remain in the self-updating mode.

In contrast, if the timing controller 110 receives the second video frame, the graphics processing unit 101 stops transmitting the picture after continuously transmitting the two video pictures, or the graphics processing unit 101 has begun to continuously transmit the video picture. Therefore, when the timing controller 110 receives the second video screen, as shown in step S371, the timing controller 110 determines whether the second update command is captured.

When the timing controller 110 retrieves the second update command, the graphics processing unit 101 stops transmitting the picture after continuously transmitting the two video pictures. Therefore, as shown in step S372, the timing controller 110 at this time will perform a second update operation to store the picture data corresponding to the second video picture to the picture buffer 120. In contrast, when the timing controller 110 does not capture the second update command, the representative graphics processing unit 101 has begun to continuously transmit the video screen. Therefore, as in step S373 It is shown that the timing controller 110 at this time will perform an exit operation to join the timing of the picture material DI from the graphics processing unit 101 with the timing of the picture material DO output by the picture buffer 120.

Further, when the time point when the timing controller 110 retrieves the valid data is not within the vertical blank interval, the representative timing controller 110 cannot completely process the picture data corresponding to the first video frame. Therefore, when the time point at which the valid data is captured is not in the vertical blank interval, the timing controller 110 determines whether the second video frame is received to determine whether to transmit a reset signal S12 to the graphics processing unit 101.

For example, when the time point of capturing the valid data is not within the vertical blank interval, as shown in step S380 of FIG. 3, the timing controller 110 will determine whether the second video screen is received. In addition, when the second video screen is received, the process returns to step S371 to successively perform the second update operation in step 372 or the exit operation in step 373. In contrast, when the time point of capturing the valid data is not in the vertical blank interval and the second video screen cannot be received, the timing controller 110 transmits the reset signal S12 to the graphic as shown in step S390 and step S373. The unit 102 is processed and an exit operation is performed to reset the connection between the timing controller 110 and the graphics processing unit 102.

On the other hand, when the timing controller 110 cannot capture the valid data within the preset time, the receiver 111 in the timing controller 110 may have a problem, so the timing controller 110 at this time will directly proceed to step S390. Wherein, in the process of resetting the connection between the timing controller 110 and the graphics processing unit 102, the graphics The processing unit 102 waits until the reply of the receiver 111 to start transmitting the valid data, so that the connection between the timing controller 110 and the graphics processing unit 102 can be restored to normal.

In summary, in the self-updating mode, the timing controller of the present invention uses the valid data from the graphics processing unit and the time point of capturing the valid data to determine whether the image data from the graphics processing unit can be completely processed. . In this way, although the timing controller does not retrieve the update command or the exit command in time, the timing controller can still perform the corresponding exit operation or update operation, or use a reset signal to reset the timing controller. The connection with the graphics processing unit further reduces the malfunction of the display device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧ display device

110‧‧‧Sequence Controller

120‧‧‧ Picture buffer

130‧‧‧ display

111‧‧‧ Receiver

112‧‧‧Screen Control Unit

113‧‧‧Multiple units

101‧‧‧Graphic Processing Unit

102‧‧‧transmitter

CH1‧‧‧ main channel

CH2‧‧‧ subsidiary channel

DS1, DS2‧‧‧ picture data stream

S11‧‧‧ wake up signal

S12‧‧‧Reset signal

DI‧‧‧Screen data from the graphics processing unit

DO‧‧‧Screen data from the picture buffer

Claims (16)

A display device is adapted to be electrically connected to a graphics processing unit for generating a first video frame and a second video frame, and the display device comprises: a display; a timing controller electrically connected to the graphic processing unit And the display; and a picture buffer electrically connected to the timing controller, wherein, in a self-updating mode, when the timing controller receives a wake-up signal, the timing controller determines whether it is at a preset time Extracting a valid data corresponding to the first video frame, when the valid data is captured within the preset time, and a time point of capturing the valid data is a vertical in a picture period In the blank interval, the timing controller performs an exit operation or performs at least one update operation on the screen buffer, when the valid data is captured within the preset time, and the time when the valid data is captured When the point is not within the vertical blanking interval, the timing controller determines whether the second video frame is received to determine whether to transmit a reset signal to the graphics processing unit. The display device of claim 1, wherein when the time point at which the valid data is retrieved is within the vertical blank interval, the timing controller further determines whether an exit command or a command is retrieved. a first update command, when the exit command or the first update command is retrieved, the timing controller performs the exit operation according to the exit command or performs the at least one on the screen buffer according to the first update command A first update operation in the update operation. The display device of claim 2, wherein when the exit command or the first update command is not captured, the timing controller directly performs the first update operation on the screen buffer to The picture data corresponding to the first video picture is stored in the picture buffer. The display device of claim 3, wherein after performing the first update operation on the screen buffer, the timing controller further determines whether the second video screen is received, to receive the first In the case of the second video screen, the exit operation or a second update operation of the at least one update operation is performed. The display device of claim 4, wherein the timing controller stores the picture data corresponding to the second video picture to the picture buffer through the second update operation. The display device of claim 1, wherein the timing controller transmits the weight when the time point at which the valid data is captured is not in the vertical blank interval and the second video frame cannot be received. Set the signal to the graphics processing unit. The display device of claim 1, wherein the timing controller executes the at least one time when the time point at which the valid data is captured is not in the vertical blank interval and the second video screen is received Update operation or the exit operation. The display device of claim 1, wherein the timing controller comprises: a receiver electrically connected to the transmitter in the graphics processing unit; a picture control unit electrically connected to the receiver and the picture a buffer; and a multiplex unit electrically connected to the receiver, the picture control unit, and the display The device, in a normal display mode, receives the picture data from the graphics processing unit through the receiver, and transmits the picture data from the graphics processing unit to the display through the multiplex unit, and In the self-updating mode, the timing controller reads the picture data from the picture buffer through the picture control unit, and transmits the picture data from the picture buffer to the display through the multiplex unit. A method for operating a display device, wherein the display device is adapted to be electrically connected to a graphics processing unit for generating a first video frame and a second video frame, and the method for operating the display device comprises: a self-updating mode When receiving a wake-up signal, determining whether a valid data corresponding to the first video frame is captured within a preset time; when the valid data is captured within the preset time, and capturing Performing at least one update operation or an exit operation when a time point to the valid data is within a vertical blank interval in a picture period; and when the valid data is captured within the preset time, and When the time point of the valid data is not within the vertical blank interval, it is determined whether the second video screen is received to determine whether to transmit a reset signal to the graphics processing unit. The method for operating a display device according to claim 9, further comprising: determining whether the time point of capturing the valid data is within the vertical blank interval in the picture period. The method of operating a display device according to claim 9, wherein The step of performing the at least one update operation or the exiting operation includes: determining whether an exit command or a first update command is captured; and when the exit command or the first update command is retrieved, according to the Exiting the command to perform the exit operation or performing a first update operation in the at least one update operation according to the first update command; directly executing the first update command when the exit command or the first update command is not captured An update operation; and after directly performing the first update operation, determining whether the second video screen is received, and if the second video screen is received, performing the exit operation or the at least one update operation A second update operation. The operating method of the display device of claim 11, wherein the step of performing the first update operation in the at least one update operation according to the first update command comprises: matching the screen material corresponding to the first video frame Stored in a picture buffer in the display device. The operating method of the display device of claim 11, wherein the step of performing the exit operation or the second update operation of the at least one update operation comprises receiving the second video screen. Determining whether a second update command is retrieved; when the second update command is retrieved, the second update operation is performed; and when the second update command is not retrieved, the exit operation is performed. The method of operating a display device according to claim 13, wherein The step of performing the second update operation includes: storing the picture material corresponding to the second video picture to a picture buffer in the display device. The method for operating a display device according to claim 9, wherein the step of determining whether the second video frame is received to determine whether to transmit the reset signal to the graphics processing unit comprises: when the first The second reset screen transmits the reset signal to the graphics processing unit. The operating method of the display device of claim 1, further comprising: performing the at least when the time point of capturing the valid data is not within the vertical blank interval and receiving the second video frame An update operation or the exit operation.