US20090202002A1 - Reducing errors in data by synchronizing operations with noiseless periods of data transmission - Google Patents

Reducing errors in data by synchronizing operations with noiseless periods of data transmission Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090202002A1
US20090202002A1 US12/240,692 US24069208A US2009202002A1 US 20090202002 A1 US20090202002 A1 US 20090202002A1 US 24069208 A US24069208 A US 24069208A US 2009202002 A1 US2009202002 A1 US 2009202002A1
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circuitry
noise
data
electrical device
display
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US12/240,692
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Wei Yao
Wei Chen
Kapil Sakariya
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Apple Inc
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Apple Inc
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Publication of US20090202002A1 publication Critical patent/US20090202002A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03KPULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K19/00Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits
    • H03K19/0021Modifications of threshold
    • H03K19/0027Modifications of threshold in field effect transistor circuits
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09GARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G5/00Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators

Definitions

  • This invention is directed to methods, systems, computer readable media and means for reducing errors in data caused by noise. More particularly, this invention relates to dynamically calibrating the trigger point threshold of data transmissions only during noiseless periods of data transmissions.
  • LCDs Liquid crystal displays
  • media players e.g., the iPodTM media player available from Apple Inc.
  • hybrid devices e.g., the iPhoneTM available from Apple Inc.
  • LCDs are known to have several advantages over other types of flat-panel displays (e.g., plasma displays), especially when used in portable electrical devices. For example, LCDs require relatively less electric power to operate and are relatively lighter (and therefore easier to carry). As a result, LCDs are better suited for portable electrical devices. Additionally, because LCDs utilize a relatively higher number of pixels, LCDs provide higher resolutions and therefore better presentations. LCDs are also less expensive than other displays that have similar properties.
  • a traditional approach to reducing errors in data transmitted between components of a handheld electrical device involves compensating for bit biasing.
  • the trigger point threshold of data being transmitted determines where a bit switches from 1 to 0 and vice versa.
  • the trigger point threshold is an average of the high and low trigger points during data transmission.
  • Long strings of bits i.e., long strings of 1's or 0's
  • some conventional systems continuously adjust the trigger point threshold by identifying the high and low trigger points during data transmission, and determining an average of the two points.
  • a major disadvantage of this approach is that it does not account for noise that exists in the data transmission. This noise can grossly distort the trigger point threshold, potentially rendering it too high or too low.
  • the present invention solves these and other problems by reducing errors in data transmitted in an electrical device using the execution of tasks during noiseless intervals.
  • the device may be a portable electrical device.
  • the operations of various components (and the corresponding circuitry) of the device are coordinated with noiseless periods to ensure better functionality.
  • Timing data is transferred from first circuitry to second circuitry. From the timing data, one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry detect whether noise is present as a result of the operations of the first circuitry. If it is detected that noise is present the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise before functioning again. If it is detected that no noise is present, the second circuitry functions.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified elevational view of an illustrative electrical device of the type that can benefit from the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of circuitry that may be included in an electrical device of the type shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of certain components from FIG. 2 in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a representative portion of certain circuitry of the type shown in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a plot of several illustrative circuit traces that are useful in explaining certain aspects of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified logical flow diagram of exemplary methods in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a plot of illustrative circuit traces that are useful in explaining certain aspects of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows electrical device 100 , which can be used to implement some embodiments of the invention.
  • Electrical device 100 can function as a media device, communications device, gaming device, locator device, radio receiver, web-browsing device, organization device and/or any other type of electrical device or hybrid thereof.
  • electrical device 100 can be coupled (wirelessly or via a wire) to a network or host device (such as a desktop or a laptop computer), download media data files (e.g., music, still image and video files), play the media data files, upload data to and communicate with a host device or network server, organize a user's personal information (e.g., contacts, appointments, etc.), communicate with at least one accessory or remote device (e.g., display screen, speaker system, etc.) and/or perform any other function.
  • a network or host device such as a desktop or a laptop computer
  • download media data files e.g., music, still image and video files
  • play the media data files upload data to and communicate with a host device or network server
  • organize a user's personal information e.g., contacts, appointments, etc.
  • at least one accessory or remote device e.g., display screen, speaker system, etc.
  • electrical device 100 is shown in FIG. 1 as being an iPhoneTM, which is an example of a hybrid device that
  • Multi-touch display component 102 can function as both a display component and user input component.
  • Multi-touch display component 102 includes a transparent touch panel and a visual display component, such as a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD.
  • the touch panel comprises a touch sensitive surface and is often positioned in front of the display screen. In this manner, the touch sensitive surface covers the viewable area of the display screen and, in response to detecting a touch event, generates a signal that can be processed and utilized by other components of electrical device 100 .
  • Multi-touch display component 102 can also include circuitry dedicated to the touch panel and/or display component. Multi-touch display screens are discussed in more detail in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0097991, entitled “MULTIPOINT TOUCHSCREEN,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • Multi-touch display component 102 can present interactive displays to a user.
  • display 104 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a number of listings, wherein each listing is associated with an image and text.
  • ICs integrated circuits
  • Display 104 can include various display elements such as overlay windows, images, video, text, etc.
  • Electrical device 100 can also include one or more other user interface components, such as button 106 , which can be used to supplement multi-touch display component 102 .
  • button 106 can be used to supplement multi-touch display component 102 .
  • electrical device 100 can include any type of user input component(s), such as, for example, click wheel, scroll wheel, QWERTY keyboard, number pad, switch, etc.
  • Electrical device 100 can also include microphone 108 and audio output 110 , which are respective examples of other types of input and output components.
  • Microphone 108 and audio output 110 are shown as being integrated into electrical device 100 , but one skilled in the art will appreciate that an external device (e.g., headphones, wireless devices such as Bluetooth earpieces or any other accessory device) or a connector can be used to facilitate the receiving and playing back of audio signals and/or the audio portion of video or other multi-media files.
  • Additional input/output components such as a camera and/or haptic feedback component, can also be integrated into and/or coupled to electrical device 100 via the electrical device's connector component (not shown).
  • Circuitry 200 inside electrical device 100 may have an overall organization like that shown in FIG. 2 .
  • Circuitry 200 may include processor 202 , storage 204 , memory 206 , input circuitry 208 , output circuitry 210 , display circuitry 212 , communications circuitry 214 , power supply 216 and bus 218 .
  • circuitry 200 can include more than one of each component or circuitry, and that to avoid over-complicating the drawing, only one of each is shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the functionality of certain components (and their correspond circuitry) can be combined or omitted and that additional components, circuitry, and connections, which are not shown in FIG. 2 , can be included in circuitry 200 without departing from the spirit of the invention.
  • Processor 202 can be any type of processor such as a processor that uses ARM architecture (e.g., Marvell's XScale or Texas Instrument's OMAP series processors), any other processor suitable for a portable electrical device, or any processor that meets the needs of electrical device 100 .
  • Processor 202 can be configured to enable electrical device 100 to perform any function electrical device 100 is required to perform.
  • processor 202 may send commands to display circuitry 212 and in response, display circuitry 212 can present a display to a user.
  • Processor 202 may also be used to run operating system applications, firmware applications, media playback applications, media editing applications and/or any other application.
  • Storage 204 can be one or more storage mediums including a hard-drive, solid-state drive (e.g., NAND flash memory), other type of non-volatile memory (such as ROM), any other suitable type of storage component, or any combination thereof.
  • Storage 204 may store media data (e.g., audio and video files), application data (e.g., for implementing functions on electrical device 100 ), firmware, wireless connection information data (e.g., information that enables electrical device 100 to establish a wireless connection), subscription information data (e.g., information that keeps track of podcasts or audio broadcasts or other media a user subscribes to), contact information data (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information data, any other suitable data, or any combination thereof.
  • the data may be formatted and organized in one or more types of data files.
  • Memory 206 can include cache memory, semi-permanent or volatile memory such as RAM, and/or one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data. Memory 206 can also be used for storing data used to operate applications electrical device 100 is running.
  • Input circuitry 208 can convert (and encode/decode, if necessary) analog signals and other signals (e.g., physical contact inputs from a multi-touch screen and/or physical movements from a mouse), into digital signals.
  • the digital signals can be provided to processor 202 , storage 204 , memory 206 , or any other component of circuitry 200 .
  • input circuitry 208 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single component of circuitry 200 , a plurality of input circuitries can be included in circuitry 200 .
  • Input circuitry 208 can be used to interface with any input component, such as microphone 108 discussed above in connection with FIG. 1 .
  • circuitry 200 can include specialized input circuitry associated with one or more microphones, cameras, proximity sensors, accelerometers, ambient light detectors, etc.
  • Input circuitry 208 can include input driver circuitry (e.g., touch driver circuitry) and/or circuitry for driving input driver(s).
  • the input circuitry of a multi-touch screen can be integrated into or coupled directly to the touch panel portion of the multi-touch screen component of an electrical device.
  • Output circuitry 210 can convert (and encode/decode, if necessary) digital signals into analog signals (analog audio signals, analog video signals, etc.). Output circuitry 210 may receive digital signals from processor 202 or any other component of circuitry 200 and convert digital signals into analog signals. Although output circuitry 210 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single component of circuitry 200 , a plurality of output circuitries can be included in circuitry 200 . Output circuitry 210 can be used to interface with any output component, such as audio output 110 discussed in connection with FIG. 1 . For example, electrical device 100 can include specialized output circuitry associated with output devices such as speakers.
  • Display circuitry 212 is an example of specialized output circuitry. Display circuitry 212 can accept and/or generate signals for presenting displays (including textual, video and/or graphical information) on a display such as multi-touch display component 102 discussed above.
  • display circuitry 212 can include a coder/decoder (CODEC) to convert digital media data into analog signals.
  • Display circuitry 212 can also include display driver circuitry and/or circuitry for driving display driver(s).
  • the display signals can be generated by processor 202 or display circuitry 212 .
  • the display signals can provide media information related to media data received from communications circuitry 214 and/or any other component of circuitry 200 .
  • display circuitry 212 can be integrated into and/or electrically coupled to electrical device 100 .
  • display circuitry 212 can be integrated into the display component of a multi-touch display component 102 and can communicate directly with processor 202 and/or input circuitry 208 .
  • Communications circuitry 214 can permit electrical device 100 to communicate with one or more servers or other devices using any suitable communications protocol.
  • communications circuitry 214 may support Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, BluetoothTM, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, TCP/IP, HTTP, BitTorrent, FTP, RTP, RTSP, SSH, any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof.
  • Power supply 216 can provide power to the components of circuitry 200 .
  • power supply 216 can be coupled to a power grid (e.g., a wall outlet, automobile cigarette lighter, etc.).
  • Power supply 216 can also include one or more batteries for providing power to a portable electrical device.
  • power supply 216 can be configured to generate power in a portable electrical device from a natural source (e.g., solar cells).
  • Bus 218 can provide a data transfer path for transferring data signals to, from, or between processor 202 , storage 204 , memory 206 , communications circuitry 214 , and any other component(s) included in circuitry 200 .
  • electrical device 100 may be coupled to one or more other devices (not shown) for performing any suitable operation that may require electrical device 100 and any other device to be coupled together.
  • Electrical device 100 may be coupled to a host, slave, master and/or accessory device.
  • the other device may perform operations such as data transfers and software or firmware updates.
  • the other device may also execute one or more operations in lieu of electrical device 100 when, for example, memory 206 does not have enough memory space, or processor 202 does not have enough processing power to perform the operations efficiently.
  • the other device may perform one or more operations in conjunction with electrical device 100 so as to increase the efficiency of electrical device 100 . For example, if electrical device 100 needs to perform several steps in a process, electrical device 100 may execute some of the steps while the other device executes the rest.
  • Electrical device 100 may be coupled with another device over a communications link using any suitable approach.
  • the communications link may be any suitable wireless connection.
  • the communications link may support any suitable wireless protocol such as, for example, Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Bluetooth®, infrared, GSM, GSM plus EDGE, CDMA, quadband, or any other suitable wireless protocol.
  • the communications link may be a wired link that is coupled to both electrical device 100 and the other device (e.g., a wire with a USB connector or a 30-pin connector).
  • a combination of wired and wireless links may also be used to couple electrical device 100 with another device.
  • FIG. 3 focuses somewhat more specifically on a portion of FIG. 2 , with additional elements shown (including elements in accordance with the invention).
  • FIG. 3 shows processor 202 applying data signals 312 to display circuitry 212 .
  • Display circuitry 212 controls the signals on a plurality of source lines 306 a - m and a plurality of gate lines 308 a - n .
  • Reference characters m and n are arbitrary index limit values.
  • the visual appearance of a pixel 302 at a source-line/gate-line intersection is controlled by the signals on those source and gate lines. Only one representative pixel 302 is shown in FIG. 3 to avoid over-complicating the drawing.
  • FIG. 4 The circuitry associated with a typical pixel 302 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 . There it will be seen how a gate line signal 308 controls (via a transistor switch 404 ) application of a Vsource voltage to one electrode of pixel 302 . The other electrode of pixel 302 is connected to a Vcommon (or Vcom) voltage. Pixel 302 includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) display capability. Again, the visual appearance of pixel 302 is controlled by the voltage across its electrodes.
  • Display circuitry 212 typically includes several “layers” of circuitry performing a variety of tasks on the data signals received via leads 312 . For example, it is typically necessary for display circuitry 212 to (1) assemble successive bytes of data from these signals, (2) look for errors in the data, (3) minimize any such errors to the extent possible, (4) process the data into the form suitable for controlling display 104 , and (5) actually use the processed data to drive the display (i.e., via source and gate lines 306 and 308 ).
  • the operations described in the preceding paragraph are typically complex operations involving large amounts of data that must be handled at very high data rates.
  • various industry-standard data communication protocols e.g., the Mobile Pixel Link (MPL) protocol and the Mobile Industry Protocol Interface (MIPI) protocol
  • MPL Mobile Pixel Link
  • MIPI Mobile Industry Protocol Interface
  • a generally similar customized data communication protocol may be developed and employed.
  • the data signals 312 received by circuitry 212 can sometimes be corrupted by noise (electrical interference) from other sources in electrical device 100 to a degree that is beyond the error-correction capability of circuitry 212 .
  • a display component e.g., the flow of power through the gate and/or source lines, as well as the charging of pixels
  • display 104 itself may constitute a noise source in electrical device 100 .
  • transmitting data from central processor 202 to display circuitry 212 without satisfying timing conditions for transmission may be another source of noise.
  • Another source of noise may be a faulty connection between central processor 202 and display circuitry 212 .
  • Noise may also be created as a result of a user interaction with electrical device 100 . For example, if electrical device 100 includes a touch screen, information transmitted from that screen to processor 202 may include noise.
  • signals 312 typically contributing to sensitivity or susceptibility of signals 312 to noise are the relatively low power, low voltage swing, and high data rates of such signals. Whatever its source, such noise that causes uncorrectable data errors in signals 312 can result in errors in what the user sees on display 104 , and this is very undesirable.
  • display circuitry 212 is equipped with an output lead 314 on which at least certain kinds of data errors detected by circuitry 212 are indicted (by an error indication in an error signal) as soon as possible after circuitry 212 has detected such a data error.
  • an error indication is preferably output from component 212 (on lead 314 ) substantially concurrently with detection of a data error by data signal receiving and handling circuitry of component 212 .
  • error signal 314 is applied to processor 202 .
  • processor 202 receives a plurality of other input signals 320 a - k (where k is an arbitrary index limit value), each of which signals 320 may include a noise component from a respective noise source elsewhere in electrical device 100 .
  • Examples of possible noise sources that may supply signals 320 a - k have been identified earlier in this specification.
  • one of signals 320 may indicate power supply noise of electrical device 100 .
  • Another of signals 320 may indicate touch screen noise of electrical device 100 .
  • Still another of signals 320 may indicate display noise of electrical device 100 .
  • Others of signals 320 may indicate noise from other possible noise sources on electrical device 100 .
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of some noise signal waveforms that processor 202 may receive via leads 320 .
  • Each of these waveforms is identified by the same reference number as the lead 320 on which that waveform is received by processor 202 .
  • the presence of noise from a source associated with any one of signals 320 is indicated by that signal having a higher level than otherwise.
  • the greater the noise from a given source the higher the concurrent (or at least substantially concurrent) level of the associated noise signal 320 .
  • an elevated level in any one of noise signals 320 in FIG. 5 constitutes a noise indication in that signal.
  • FIG. 5 also shows an example of an error signal waveform that display circuitry 212 may output via lead 314 .
  • this error signal waveform is identified by the same reference number ( 314 ) as the lead on which that waveform is received by processor 202 .
  • a relatively low level of signal 314 indicates no error output indication from display circuitry 212 .
  • a high level of signal 314 indicates that display circuitry 212 has concurrently (or at least substantially concurrently) detected an error. All of signals 320 and 314 are plotted against the same horizontal time base in FIG. 5 (earlier time to the left; later time to the right).
  • signal 314 begins (at time t 1 ) to indicate an error in display circuitry 212 shortly after signal 320 a begins (at about time t 0 ) to indicate a significant amount of noise from the source associated with signal 320 a .
  • Processor 202 detects this timing correlation between the noise burst in signal 320 a and the error indication in signal 314 , and processor 202 accordingly outputs (via lead 330 ) an indication that noise from the source associated with signal 320 a may have produced the error indicated at time t 1 .
  • Processor 202 detects this lack of correlation between these other noises and the t 1 error indication and can thereby rule out attributing the t 1 error indication to these other noise sources. Again, the noise and error correlation is closest for the noise burst in signal 320 a , and so processor 202 identifies (via lead 330 ) that noise from the source associated with signal 320 a may have caused the error at t 1 .
  • the various components (and corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100 can generate timing data based on their operations, and can transfer the timing data to one or more other components (or corresponding circuitry).
  • the timing data can indicate, among other things, when noiseless periods occur (i.e., have occurred, are occurring and/or will be occurring).
  • noiseless periods i.e., have occurred, are occurring and/or will be occurring.
  • there may be noise present in the data transmitted between the components of electrical device 100 there may be noise present in the data transmitted between the components of electrical device 100 .
  • a video blanking period is a noiseless period.
  • a noiseless period can occur consistently at a known frequency (e.g., 60 hz) for a set amount of time (e.g., 15 microseconds).
  • the timing data transferred between the various components (and corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100 can be monitored to detect noiseless periods in order to coordinate the operations of electrical device 100 with the noiseless periods. This can ensure that the operations of electrical device 100 are executed more efficiently.
  • Process 600 shows a method of coordinating the operations of various components (and the corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100 with noiseless periods to ensure better functionality.
  • timing data can be transferred from first circuitry to second circuitry.
  • the first circuitry can be a source of noise (i.e., “noisy circuitry”) that can adversely impact the functionality of the second circuitry (i.e., “noise-sensitive circuitry”).
  • display circuitry can be noisy circuitry while touch-based input circuitry can be noise-sensitive circuitry.
  • Process 600 begins at step 602 .
  • timing data is transferred from the first circuitry to the second circuitry.
  • either one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect, from the timing data, whether noise is present as a result of the first circuitry operating. For example, one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect whether the noise present exceeds a pre-set acceptable level.
  • process 600 proceeds to step 608 where the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise before functioning again. Process 600 then returns to step 606 where one or both of the first and second circuitry detect whether there is noise present. In response to detecting at step 606 that no noise is present, process 600 proceeds to step 610 .
  • the second circuitry functions. For example, if the second circuitry is a touch-based circuitry, it can enter a ready mode where it awaits for user inputs.
  • process 600 proceeds to step 612 where either one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect once again whether noise is present as a result of the operations of the first circuitry. In response to detecting that no noise is present, process 600 returns to step 610 where the second circuitry operates. In response to detecting at step 612 that noise is present, process 600 proceeds to step 608 where the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise in order to operate.
  • FIG. 7 shows timing diagram 700 , which is an example of how the functionality of the second circuitry can be coordinated based on noise generated by the first circuitry.
  • Signal 702 represents an exemplary noise waveform associated with the first circuitry.
  • Signal 704 represents an exemplary waveform associated with the functioning of the second circuitry.
  • a noise region exists in signal 702 during the time period between t 0 and t 1 . Accordingly, during the time period between t 0 and t 1 , the second circuitry is not functioning. This is represented by a period of inactivity in signal 704 . After time t 1 , the first circuitry enters a noiseless period until t 2 . As discussed above, the first circuitry can send timing data to the second circuitry, enabling the second circuitry to know when a noiseless period is begins and when the noise period begins. In other embodiments, the second circuitry can generate timing data (instead of or in addition to receiving timing data from the first circuitry).

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer readable media and means for reducing errors in data caused by noise are provided. In some embodiments of the present invention, timing data is transferred from first circuitry to second circuitry. From the timing data, one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry detect whether noise is present as a result of the operations of the first circuitry. If it is detected that noise is present the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise before functioning again. If it is detected that no noise is present, the second circuitry functions.

Description

  • This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/028,483, filed Feb. 14, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION Background of the Invention
  • This invention is directed to methods, systems, computer readable media and means for reducing errors in data caused by noise. More particularly, this invention relates to dynamically calibrating the trigger point threshold of data transmissions only during noiseless periods of data transmissions.
  • Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are commonly used today in electrical devices such as cellular phones, televisions, media players (e.g., the iPod™ media player available from Apple Inc.) and hybrid devices (e.g., the iPhone™ available from Apple Inc.). LCDs are known to have several advantages over other types of flat-panel displays (e.g., plasma displays), especially when used in portable electrical devices. For example, LCDs require relatively less electric power to operate and are relatively lighter (and therefore easier to carry). As a result, LCDs are better suited for portable electrical devices. Additionally, because LCDs utilize a relatively higher number of pixels, LCDs provide higher resolutions and therefore better presentations. LCDs are also less expensive than other displays that have similar properties.
  • Despite the numerous advantages of LCDs, data transmitted to and from LCDs often contain errors. Many of the errors are a result of noise generated by current flowing through the electrodes and pixels of the LCD. These problems are exacerbated when LCDs are used in portable electrical devices. More specifically, there tends to be a further increase in the noise in data transmission due to varying environmental factors (e.g., varying temperature, humidity, etc.) that can affect the flow of current in the LCD. Errors in data transmitted in a portable electrical device may adversely affect the performance of the electrical device. For example, the error may affect the electrical device's ability to present images on an LCD display.
  • A traditional approach to reducing errors in data transmitted between components of a handheld electrical device involves compensating for bit biasing. The trigger point threshold of data being transmitted determines where a bit switches from 1 to 0 and vice versa. In an ideal environment, the trigger point threshold is an average of the high and low trigger points during data transmission. Long strings of bits (i.e., long strings of 1's or 0's) can produce adverse switching characteristics of data being transmitted. To counteract these adverse switching characteristics, some conventional systems continuously adjust the trigger point threshold by identifying the high and low trigger points during data transmission, and determining an average of the two points. A major disadvantage of this approach is that it does not account for noise that exists in the data transmission. This noise can grossly distort the trigger point threshold, potentially rendering it too high or too low.
  • The present invention solves these and other problems by reducing errors in data transmitted in an electrical device using the execution of tasks during noiseless intervals.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Methods, systems, computer readable media and means are provided for executing tasks during noiseless intervals. The device may be a portable electrical device.
  • In some embodiments of the invention, the operations of various components (and the corresponding circuitry) of the device are coordinated with noiseless periods to ensure better functionality. Timing data is transferred from first circuitry to second circuitry. From the timing data, one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry detect whether noise is present as a result of the operations of the first circuitry. If it is detected that noise is present the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise before functioning again. If it is detected that no noise is present, the second circuitry functions.
  • Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The above and other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified elevational view of an illustrative electrical device of the type that can benefit from the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of circuitry that may be included in an electrical device of the type shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of certain components from FIG. 2 in accordance with the invention;
  • FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a representative portion of certain circuitry of the type shown in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a plot of several illustrative circuit traces that are useful in explaining certain aspects of the invention;
  • FIG. 6 is a simplified logical flow diagram of exemplary methods in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and
  • FIG. 7 is a plot of illustrative circuit traces that are useful in explaining certain aspects of the invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • FIG. 1 shows electrical device 100, which can be used to implement some embodiments of the invention. Electrical device 100 can function as a media device, communications device, gaming device, locator device, radio receiver, web-browsing device, organization device and/or any other type of electrical device or hybrid thereof. For example, electrical device 100 can be coupled (wirelessly or via a wire) to a network or host device (such as a desktop or a laptop computer), download media data files (e.g., music, still image and video files), play the media data files, upload data to and communicate with a host device or network server, organize a user's personal information (e.g., contacts, appointments, etc.), communicate with at least one accessory or remote device (e.g., display screen, speaker system, etc.) and/or perform any other function. Although electrical device 100 is shown in FIG. 1 as being an iPhone™, which is an example of a hybrid device that combines various types of functionality into one device, one skilled in the art will appreciate that electrical device 100 can take any form and/or perform any function without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
  • Electrical device 100 comprises multi-touch display component 102. Multi-touch display component 102 can function as both a display component and user input component. Multi-touch display component 102 includes a transparent touch panel and a visual display component, such as a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD. The touch panel comprises a touch sensitive surface and is often positioned in front of the display screen. In this manner, the touch sensitive surface covers the viewable area of the display screen and, in response to detecting a touch event, generates a signal that can be processed and utilized by other components of electrical device 100. Multi-touch display component 102 can also include circuitry dedicated to the touch panel and/or display component. Multi-touch display screens are discussed in more detail in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2006/0097991, entitled “MULTIPOINT TOUCHSCREEN,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • Multi-touch display component 102 can present interactive displays to a user. For example, display 104 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a number of listings, wherein each listing is associated with an image and text. In response to a user touching one of the listings, one or more integrated circuits (ICs) in multi-touch display component 102 can replace display 104 with another interactive display (not shown). Display 104 (and any other display presented by electrical device 100) can include various display elements such as overlay windows, images, video, text, etc.
  • Electrical device 100 can also include one or more other user interface components, such as button 106, which can be used to supplement multi-touch display component 102. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, regardless of what is shown in FIG. 1, electrical device 100 can include any type of user input component(s), such as, for example, click wheel, scroll wheel, QWERTY keyboard, number pad, switch, etc.
  • Electrical device 100 can also include microphone 108 and audio output 110, which are respective examples of other types of input and output components. Microphone 108 and audio output 110 are shown as being integrated into electrical device 100, but one skilled in the art will appreciate that an external device (e.g., headphones, wireless devices such as Bluetooth earpieces or any other accessory device) or a connector can be used to facilitate the receiving and playing back of audio signals and/or the audio portion of video or other multi-media files. Additional input/output components, such as a camera and/or haptic feedback component, can also be integrated into and/or coupled to electrical device 100 via the electrical device's connector component (not shown).
  • Electronic circuitry 200 inside electrical device 100 may have an overall organization like that shown in FIG. 2. Circuitry 200 may include processor 202, storage 204, memory 206, input circuitry 208, output circuitry 210, display circuitry 212, communications circuitry 214, power supply 216 and bus 218. One skilled in the art will appreciate that, in some embodiments, circuitry 200 can include more than one of each component or circuitry, and that to avoid over-complicating the drawing, only one of each is shown in FIG. 2. In addition, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the functionality of certain components (and their correspond circuitry) can be combined or omitted and that additional components, circuitry, and connections, which are not shown in FIG. 2, can be included in circuitry 200 without departing from the spirit of the invention.
  • Processor 202 can be any type of processor such as a processor that uses ARM architecture (e.g., Marvell's XScale or Texas Instrument's OMAP series processors), any other processor suitable for a portable electrical device, or any processor that meets the needs of electrical device 100. Processor 202 can be configured to enable electrical device 100 to perform any function electrical device 100 is required to perform. As an example, processor 202 may send commands to display circuitry 212 and in response, display circuitry 212 can present a display to a user. Processor 202 may also be used to run operating system applications, firmware applications, media playback applications, media editing applications and/or any other application.
  • Storage 204 can be one or more storage mediums including a hard-drive, solid-state drive (e.g., NAND flash memory), other type of non-volatile memory (such as ROM), any other suitable type of storage component, or any combination thereof. Storage 204 may store media data (e.g., audio and video files), application data (e.g., for implementing functions on electrical device 100), firmware, wireless connection information data (e.g., information that enables electrical device 100 to establish a wireless connection), subscription information data (e.g., information that keeps track of podcasts or audio broadcasts or other media a user subscribes to), contact information data (e.g., telephone numbers and email addresses), calendar information data, any other suitable data, or any combination thereof. The data may be formatted and organized in one or more types of data files.
  • Memory 206 can include cache memory, semi-permanent or volatile memory such as RAM, and/or one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data. Memory 206 can also be used for storing data used to operate applications electrical device 100 is running.
  • Input circuitry 208 can convert (and encode/decode, if necessary) analog signals and other signals (e.g., physical contact inputs from a multi-touch screen and/or physical movements from a mouse), into digital signals. The digital signals can be provided to processor 202, storage 204, memory 206, or any other component of circuitry 200. Although input circuitry 208 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single component of circuitry 200, a plurality of input circuitries can be included in circuitry 200. Input circuitry 208 can be used to interface with any input component, such as microphone 108 discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. For example, circuitry 200 can include specialized input circuitry associated with one or more microphones, cameras, proximity sensors, accelerometers, ambient light detectors, etc. Input circuitry 208 can include input driver circuitry (e.g., touch driver circuitry) and/or circuitry for driving input driver(s). As another example, the input circuitry of a multi-touch screen can be integrated into or coupled directly to the touch panel portion of the multi-touch screen component of an electrical device.
  • Output circuitry 210 can convert (and encode/decode, if necessary) digital signals into analog signals (analog audio signals, analog video signals, etc.). Output circuitry 210 may receive digital signals from processor 202 or any other component of circuitry 200 and convert digital signals into analog signals. Although output circuitry 210 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single component of circuitry 200, a plurality of output circuitries can be included in circuitry 200. Output circuitry 210 can be used to interface with any output component, such as audio output 110 discussed in connection with FIG. 1. For example, electrical device 100 can include specialized output circuitry associated with output devices such as speakers.
  • Display circuitry 212 is an example of specialized output circuitry. Display circuitry 212 can accept and/or generate signals for presenting displays (including textual, video and/or graphical information) on a display such as multi-touch display component 102 discussed above. For example, display circuitry 212 can include a coder/decoder (CODEC) to convert digital media data into analog signals. Display circuitry 212 can also include display driver circuitry and/or circuitry for driving display driver(s). The display signals can be generated by processor 202 or display circuitry 212. The display signals can provide media information related to media data received from communications circuitry 214 and/or any other component of circuitry 200. In some embodiments, display circuitry 212, like any other component discussed herein, can be integrated into and/or electrically coupled to electrical device 100. For example, display circuitry 212 can be integrated into the display component of a multi-touch display component 102 and can communicate directly with processor 202 and/or input circuitry 208.
  • Communications circuitry 214 can permit electrical device 100 to communicate with one or more servers or other devices using any suitable communications protocol. For example, communications circuitry 214 may support Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Ethernet, Bluetooth™, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, TCP/IP, HTTP, BitTorrent, FTP, RTP, RTSP, SSH, any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof.
  • Power supply 216 can provide power to the components of circuitry 200. In some embodiments, power supply 216 can be coupled to a power grid (e.g., a wall outlet, automobile cigarette lighter, etc.). Power supply 216 can also include one or more batteries for providing power to a portable electrical device. As another example, power supply 216 can be configured to generate power in a portable electrical device from a natural source (e.g., solar cells).
  • Bus 218 can provide a data transfer path for transferring data signals to, from, or between processor 202, storage 204, memory 206, communications circuitry 214, and any other component(s) included in circuitry 200.
  • In some embodiments, electrical device 100 may be coupled to one or more other devices (not shown) for performing any suitable operation that may require electrical device 100 and any other device to be coupled together. Electrical device 100 may be coupled to a host, slave, master and/or accessory device. The other device may perform operations such as data transfers and software or firmware updates. The other device may also execute one or more operations in lieu of electrical device 100 when, for example, memory 206 does not have enough memory space, or processor 202 does not have enough processing power to perform the operations efficiently. Alternatively, the other device may perform one or more operations in conjunction with electrical device 100 so as to increase the efficiency of electrical device 100. For example, if electrical device 100 needs to perform several steps in a process, electrical device 100 may execute some of the steps while the other device executes the rest.
  • Electrical device 100 may be coupled with another device over a communications link using any suitable approach. As an example, the communications link may be any suitable wireless connection. The communications link may support any suitable wireless protocol such as, for example, Wi-Fi (e.g., a 802.11 protocol), Bluetooth®, infrared, GSM, GSM plus EDGE, CDMA, quadband, or any other suitable wireless protocol. Alternatively, the communications link may be a wired link that is coupled to both electrical device 100 and the other device (e.g., a wire with a USB connector or a 30-pin connector). A combination of wired and wireless links may also be used to couple electrical device 100 with another device.
  • FIG. 3 focuses somewhat more specifically on a portion of FIG. 2, with additional elements shown (including elements in accordance with the invention). In particular, FIG. 3 shows processor 202 applying data signals 312 to display circuitry 212. Display circuitry 212 controls the signals on a plurality of source lines 306 a-m and a plurality of gate lines 308 a-n. (Reference characters m and n are arbitrary index limit values.) The visual appearance of a pixel 302 at a source-line/gate-line intersection is controlled by the signals on those source and gate lines. Only one representative pixel 302 is shown in FIG. 3 to avoid over-complicating the drawing.
  • The circuitry associated with a typical pixel 302 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. There it will be seen how a gate line signal 308 controls (via a transistor switch 404) application of a Vsource voltage to one electrode of pixel 302. The other electrode of pixel 302 is connected to a Vcommon (or Vcom) voltage. Pixel 302 includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) display capability. Again, the visual appearance of pixel 302 is controlled by the voltage across its electrodes.
  • Returning to FIG. 3, data for controlling display 104 is applied to display circuitry 212 via leads 312. Display circuitry 212 typically includes several “layers” of circuitry performing a variety of tasks on the data signals received via leads 312. For example, it is typically necessary for display circuitry 212 to (1) assemble successive bytes of data from these signals, (2) look for errors in the data, (3) minimize any such errors to the extent possible, (4) process the data into the form suitable for controlling display 104, and (5) actually use the processed data to drive the display (i.e., via source and gate lines 306 and 308).
  • The operations described in the preceding paragraph are typically complex operations involving large amounts of data that must be handled at very high data rates. To facilitate such data signaling and data handling operations, various industry-standard data communication protocols (e.g., the Mobile Pixel Link (MPL) protocol and the Mobile Industry Protocol Interface (MIPI) protocol) are known. Alternatively, a generally similar customized data communication protocol may be developed and employed. However, even with the benefit of all of this technology, the data signals 312 received by circuitry 212 can sometimes be corrupted by noise (electrical interference) from other sources in electrical device 100 to a degree that is beyond the error-correction capability of circuitry 212. For example, the operation of a display component (e.g., the flow of power through the gate and/or source lines, as well as the charging of pixels) can result in noise that adversely impacts data. Thus display 104 itself may constitute a noise source in electrical device 100. As another example, transmitting data from central processor 202 to display circuitry 212 without satisfying timing conditions for transmission may be another source of noise. Another source of noise may be a faulty connection between central processor 202 and display circuitry 212. Noise may also be created as a result of a user interaction with electrical device 100. For example, if electrical device 100 includes a touch screen, information transmitted from that screen to processor 202 may include noise. Typically contributing to sensitivity or susceptibility of signals 312 to noise are the relatively low power, low voltage swing, and high data rates of such signals. Whatever its source, such noise that causes uncorrectable data errors in signals 312 can result in errors in what the user sees on display 104, and this is very undesirable.
  • In accordance with the present invention, display circuitry 212 is equipped with an output lead 314 on which at least certain kinds of data errors detected by circuitry 212 are indicted (by an error indication in an error signal) as soon as possible after circuitry 212 has detected such a data error. Thus such an error indication is preferably output from component 212 (on lead 314) substantially concurrently with detection of a data error by data signal receiving and handling circuitry of component 212. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 error signal 314 is applied to processor 202. Also in this embodiment, processor 202 receives a plurality of other input signals 320 a-k (where k is an arbitrary index limit value), each of which signals 320 may include a noise component from a respective noise source elsewhere in electrical device 100. Examples of possible noise sources that may supply signals 320 a-k have been identified earlier in this specification. To recapitulate just a few of these examples, one of signals 320 may indicate power supply noise of electrical device 100. Another of signals 320 may indicate touch screen noise of electrical device 100. Still another of signals 320 may indicate display noise of electrical device 100. Others of signals 320 may indicate noise from other possible noise sources on electrical device 100.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of some noise signal waveforms that processor 202 may receive via leads 320. Each of these waveforms is identified by the same reference number as the lead 320 on which that waveform is received by processor 202. The presence of noise from a source associated with any one of signals 320 is indicated by that signal having a higher level than otherwise. The greater the noise from a given source, the higher the concurrent (or at least substantially concurrent) level of the associated noise signal 320. Thus an elevated level in any one of noise signals 320 in FIG. 5 constitutes a noise indication in that signal.
  • FIG. 5 also shows an example of an error signal waveform that display circuitry 212 may output via lead 314. Again, this error signal waveform is identified by the same reference number (314) as the lead on which that waveform is received by processor 202. A relatively low level of signal 314 indicates no error output indication from display circuitry 212. A high level of signal 314 indicates that display circuitry 212 has concurrently (or at least substantially concurrently) detected an error. All of signals 320 and 314 are plotted against the same horizontal time base in FIG. 5 (earlier time to the left; later time to the right).
  • In the particular example shown in FIG. 5, it will be noted that signal 314 begins (at time t1) to indicate an error in display circuitry 212 shortly after signal 320 a begins (at about time t0) to indicate a significant amount of noise from the source associated with signal 320 a. Processor 202 detects this timing correlation between the noise burst in signal 320 a and the error indication in signal 314, and processor 202 accordingly outputs (via lead 330) an indication that noise from the source associated with signal 320 a may have produced the error indicated at time t1. Others of signals 320 b-k in FIG. 5 also indicate noise from their associated sources at various other times, but these other noise indications are not sufficiently closely correlated in time to the t1 error indication to have been likely causes of that error indication. Processor 202 detects this lack of correlation between these other noises and the t1 error indication and can thereby rule out attributing the t1 error indication to these other noise sources. Again, the noise and error correlation is closest for the noise burst in signal 320 a, and so processor 202 identifies (via lead 330) that noise from the source associated with signal 320 a may have caused the error at t1.
  • In some embodiments of the present invention, the various components (and corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100, which were discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1-5, can generate timing data based on their operations, and can transfer the timing data to one or more other components (or corresponding circuitry). The timing data can indicate, among other things, when noiseless periods occur (i.e., have occurred, are occurring and/or will be occurring). As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-5, there may be noise present in the data transmitted between the components of electrical device 100. However, there may be a period of time, defined as a noiseless period, when the noise in data transmission is reduced. For example, a video blanking period is a noiseless period. A noiseless period can occur consistently at a known frequency (e.g., 60 hz) for a set amount of time (e.g., 15 microseconds).
  • The timing data transferred between the various components (and corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100 can be monitored to detect noiseless periods in order to coordinate the operations of electrical device 100 with the noiseless periods. This can ensure that the operations of electrical device 100 are executed more efficiently.
  • An example of an advantage that can be realized by coordinating the operations of electrical device 100 with noiseless periods is shown by process 600 of FIG. 6. Process 600 shows a method of coordinating the operations of various components (and the corresponding circuitry) of electrical device 100 with noiseless periods to ensure better functionality. For example timing data can be transferred from first circuitry to second circuitry. The first circuitry can be a source of noise (i.e., “noisy circuitry”) that can adversely impact the functionality of the second circuitry (i.e., “noise-sensitive circuitry”). For example, display circuitry can be noisy circuitry while touch-based input circuitry can be noise-sensitive circuitry.
  • Process 600 begins at step 602. At step 604, timing data is transferred from the first circuitry to the second circuitry. At step 606, either one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect, from the timing data, whether noise is present as a result of the first circuitry operating. For example, one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect whether the noise present exceeds a pre-set acceptable level.
  • If it is detected at step 606 that noise is present, process 600 proceeds to step 608 where the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise before functioning again. Process 600 then returns to step 606 where one or both of the first and second circuitry detect whether there is noise present. In response to detecting at step 606 that no noise is present, process 600 proceeds to step 610. At step 610, the second circuitry functions. For example, if the second circuitry is a touch-based circuitry, it can enter a ready mode where it awaits for user inputs.
  • From step 610, process 600 proceeds to step 612 where either one or both of the first circuitry and the second circuitry can detect once again whether noise is present as a result of the operations of the first circuitry. In response to detecting that no noise is present, process 600 returns to step 610 where the second circuitry operates. In response to detecting at step 612 that noise is present, process 600 proceeds to step 608 where the second circuitry waits for the cessation of the noise in order to operate.
  • For example, FIG. 7 shows timing diagram 700, which is an example of how the functionality of the second circuitry can be coordinated based on noise generated by the first circuitry. Signal 702 represents an exemplary noise waveform associated with the first circuitry. Signal 704 represents an exemplary waveform associated with the functioning of the second circuitry.
  • For example, a noise region exists in signal 702 during the time period between t0 and t1. Accordingly, during the time period between t0 and t1, the second circuitry is not functioning. This is represented by a period of inactivity in signal 704. After time t1, the first circuitry enters a noiseless period until t2. As discussed above, the first circuitry can send timing data to the second circuitry, enabling the second circuitry to know when a noiseless period is begins and when the noise period begins. In other embodiments, the second circuitry can generate timing data (instead of or in addition to receiving timing data from the first circuitry).
  • The above is meant to be exemplary only and not limiting in any manner. One skilled in the art will appreciate various other advantages of the present invention that are not explicitly stated above.

Claims (13)

1. A method of coordinating operations of first circuitry of an electrical device and second circuitry of the electrical device, comprising:
transferring timing data from the first circuitry to the second circuitry;
detecting a noiseless period from the timing data; and
synchronizing operations of the second circuitry to coincide with the noiseless period.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the noiseless period from the timing data further comprises detecting noise periods in the timing data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the noiseless period from the timing data further comprises detecting the noiseless period with the first circuitry.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the noiseless period from the timing data further comprises detecting the noiseless period with the second circuitry.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the noiseless period from the timing data further comprises detecting the noiseless period with the first circuitry and the second circuitry.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the operations of the second circuitry to coincide with the noiseless period further comprises executing the operations of the second circuitry during the noiseless period.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein synchronizing the operations of the second circuitry to coincide with the noiseless period further comprises ceasing to execute the operations of the second circuitry during the noise periods.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first circuitry is display circuitry.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second circuitry is touch-based input circuitry.
10. Apparatus for coordinating operations of first circuitry of an electrical device and second circuitry of the electrical device, comprising:
display circuitry configured to:
generate timing data;
transfer the timing data to one or more circuitry; and
touch-based input circuitry configured to:
receive the timing data;
identify a noiseless period from the timing data; and
execute an operation to coincide with the noiseless period.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the touch-based input circuitry is further configured to detect noise periods in the timing data.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display circuitry is further configured to detect the noiseless period.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein touch-based input circuitry is further configured to cease executing one or more operations during the noise periods.
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