Patent Publication Number: US-10319339-B2

Title: Data transmission method, processor and terminal

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is the national phase of International Application No. PCT/CN2014/072250, titled “DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD, PROCESSOR AND TERMINAL”, filed on Feb. 19, 2014, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201310611509.5, titled “DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD, PROCESSOR AND TERMINAL”, filed on Nov. 26, 2013 with the State Intellectual Property Office of People&#39;s Republic of China, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in entireties. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communications, and in particular to a data transmission method, a processor and a terminal device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A pixel arrangement of Pentile refers to an arrangement manner, mainly including an arrangement of Red, Green, Blue and White (RGBW), an arrangement of Red, Green, Blue and Yellow (RGBY), and the like. Pentile has been applied to current display devices. Pentile of four primary colors are achieved by adding a sub-pixel of a color on the basis of tricolor. Arrangements of different four primary colors have different advantages over the arrangements of tricolor. For example, the arrangement of RGBW may improve the utilization of backlight by a liquid crystal display (LCD) to increase the display brightness of the LCD and reduce the power consumption of the LCD, and the arrangement of RGBY may increase the color gamut of the LCD. 
     In the conventional technology, an additional chip is added in a terminal device to transmit Pentile data to a display system of the terminal device, not only increasing the costs of hardware but also increasing the power consumption for transmission. 
     SUMMARY 
     A data transmission method, a processor and a terminal device are provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure, which can save the costs of hardware and reduce the power consumption for transmission. 
     A data transmission method is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes: converting, by a processor, RGB data into Pentile data; and sending, by the processor, the Pentile data obtained after conversion to a display drive system, where the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. The processor, the display drive system and the display system are configured in a same terminal device. 
     A processor is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes a converting unit and a sending unit. 
     The converting unit is configured to convert RGB data into Pentile data. The sending unit is configured to send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to a display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. The processor, the display drive system and the display system are configured in a same terminal device. 
     A terminal device is provided according to an embodiment according to the present disclosure, which includes a processor, a display drive system and a display system. 
     The processor is configured to convert RGB data into Pentile data and send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system. The display drive system is configured to send a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. The display system is configured to display an image based on the received drive signal. 
     As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of the present disclosure have the following advantages. 
     In the embodiments, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data and sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. In this way, only the original processor of the terminal device is used without an additional chip, thereby saving the costs of hardware and reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings needed to be used in the description of embodiments are described briefly as follows, so that the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure become clearer. It is apparent that the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other accompanying drawings may be obtained based on these accompanying drawings without any creative work. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of RGB Pentile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of RGBW Pentile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     According to embodiments of the present disclosure, there are provided a data transmission method, a processor and a terminal device, which can save the costs of hardware and reduce power consumption for transmission. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes step  101  and step  102 . 
     In step  101 , RGB data are converted by a processor into Pentile data. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of converting the RGB data into the Pentile data. In practice, the Pentile data include data of various pixel arrangements, such as Pentile RGB, Pentile RGW, Pentile RGBY. 
     In step  102 , the Pentile data obtained after conversion are sent by the processor to a display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. 
     In the embodiment, the processor sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. The processor, the display drive system and the display system are configured in a same terminal device. In practice, the terminal device may include a handheld device, a television, a computer and the like. 
     It should be noted that the processor is a central processing unit (CPU) owned originally by the terminal device. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data and sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. Thus, only the original processor of the terminal device is used for conversion without an additional chip, thereby saving the costs of hardware and reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     For better understanding, the data transmission method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described with a specific example. Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a case that the Pentile data are Pentile data of RGB, a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes step  201  to step  203 . 
     In step  201 , the RGB data are converted by the processor into Pentile data of RGB. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of converting standard RGB data into Pentile data of RGB. An approach for the conversion may be found in the conventional technology, which is described herein. 
     In step  202 , one color is selected by the processor from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB; and a pixel is generated by the processor by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of selecting one color from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB, and generating a pixel by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors. Multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of RGB. In practice, the color for the common sub-pixel is selected randomly. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of RGB Pentile. In  FIG. 3 , each rectangle block represents a sub-pixel, and text in the rectangle block indicates a color of the sub-pixel. For example, if red color is selected as a color for a common pixel, a pixel (such as a pixel A shown in  FIG. 3 ) is generated by combining a sub-pixel of red color with a sub-pixel of green color, and a pixel (such as a pixel B shown in  FIG. 3 ) is generated by combining the sub-pixel of red color with a sub-pixel of blue color. In this way, the Pentile data of RGB is converted to data of pixels each consisting of a sub-pixel of red color and a sub-pixel of green color and pixels each consisting of a sub-pixel of red color and a sub-pixel of blue color. 
     In step  203 , each of the generated pixels is sent by the processor to the display drive system. 
     In the embodiment, the processor sends each of the generated pixels to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. 
     The transmission rate for the processor to send the Pentile data of RGB to the display drive system is described by taking a mobile phone as an example hereinafter. 
     Assuming that the mobile phone is to display a high definition (HD) image of 720P transmitted through double channels of mobile industry processor interface (MIPI), the amount of data to be transmitted equals to 1280*720*2*8. If a frame rate is of 60, the transmission rate for the MIPI is of only 550 MHz. However, in the conversional technology, a processor has to transmit RGB data to an additional chip, and thus the amount of data of the same image to be transmitted with the same MIPI equals to 1280*720*3*8. If a frame rate is still of 60, the transmission rate for the MIPI is of 850 MHz. And then the Pentile data are transmitted from the additional chip to the display drive system. It can be seen from the comparison that the bandwidth for data transmission and the power consumption for transmission are reduced with the innovation. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data of RGB, then selects one color from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB, generates a pixel by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors, and sends each of the generated pixels to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. In this way, only two sub-pixels are transmitted to the display drive system at a time by the original processor of the terminal device, thereby not only saving the costs of hardware but also reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     For better understanding, the data transmission method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described with a specific example. Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a case that the Pentile data are Pentile data of four primary colors, a data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes step  401  to step  404 . 
     In step  401 , the RGB data is converted by the processor into Pentile data of four primary colors. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of converting the RGB data into the Pentile data of four primary colors. The Pentile data of four primary colors converted from the RGB data includes Pentile data of RGBW, Pentile data of RGBY and the like. In practice, the arrangement of RGBW is achieved by adding a white color on the basis of tricolor, and the arrangement of RGBY is achieved by adding a yellow color on the basis of tricolor. 
     In step  402 , four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors are classified by the processor into two groups. 
     In step  403 , a pixel is generated by the processor using two sub-pixels of different colors in each of the two groups. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of classifying the four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors into two groups. In practice, the processor may select randomly two different colors to be grouped together. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of RGBW Pentile. In  FIG. 5 , each rectangle block represents a sub-pixel, and text in the rectangle block indicates a color of the sub-pixel. RGBW Pentile includes four colors, namely, red color, blue color, green color and white color. Assuming that blue color is grouped with white color while green color is grouped with red color, a pixel (such as a pixel C shown in  FIG. 5 ) is generated using a sub-pixel of blue color and a sub-pixel of white color, and a pixel (such as a pixel D shown in  FIG. 5 ) is generated using a sub-pixel of green color and a sub-pixel of red color. 
     Since the Pentile data of four primary colors include multiple sub-pixels, multiple such pixels may be generated. 
     In step  404 , each of the generated pixels is sent by the processor to the display drive system. 
     In the embodiment, the processor is capable of sending each of the generated pixels to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. 
     The transmission rate for the processor to send the Pentile data of RGBW to the display drive system is described by taking a computer as an example hereinafter. 
     Assuming that the processor is to transmit an image of 2K4K RGB to the display system and the transmission rate is of 60 Hz, the transmission rate for the processor to transmit RGBW data to the display system is of only 8*106*2*8*60=7.6 Gbps. However, in the conventional technology, a processor has to transmit the RGB data to an additional chip. If the same image of 2K4K RGB is transmitted with the same transmission rate, the transmission rate is of 8*106*3*8*60=11.5 Gbps. And then the Pentile data are transmitted from the additional chip to the display drive system. It can be seen from the above that the power consumption for transmission is reduced with the innovation compared with the conventional technology. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data of four primary colors, classifies four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors into two groups, generates a pixel using two sub-pixels of different colors in each of the two groups, where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of four primary colors, and sends each of the generated pixels to the display drive system. In this way, only two sub-pixels are transmitted to the display drive system at a time by the original processor of the terminal device, thereby not only saving the costs of hardware but also reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     A processor for performing the above data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described hereinafter. Reference is made to  FIG. 6 , which shows a basic logic structure of a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The processor includes a converting unit  601  and a sending unit  602 . 
     The converting unit  601  is configured to convert RGB data into Pentile data. 
     The sending unit  602  is configured to send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to a display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. 
     The processor, the display drive system and the display system are configured in a same terminal device. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data via the converting unit  601  and then sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system via the sending unit  602 , and the display drive system sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system. Thus, no additional chip is needed, thereby saving the costs of hardware and reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     For better understanding of the above embodiment, data exchange between various elements included in the processor is described with a specific example. In a case that the Pentile data are Pentile data of RGB, referring to  FIG. 7 , a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a converting unit  701  and a sending unit  702 . 
     The converting unit  701  includes a first converting sub-unit  7011 . 
     The sending unit  702  includes a selecting and generating sub-unit  7021  and a first sending sub-unit  7022 . 
     The first converting unit  7011  is configured to convert the RGB data into Pentile data of RGB and then send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the selecting and generating sub-unit  7021 . 
     The selecting and generating sub-unit  7021  is configured to, in a case that the Pentile data obtained after conversion are the Pentile data of RGB, select one color from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB, generate a pixel by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors, where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of RGB, and then send each of the generated pixels to the first sending sub-unit  7022 . In practice, the color for the common sub-pixel is selected randomly. For example, if red color is selected as a color for a common pixel, a pixel (such as a pixel A shown in  FIG. 3 ) is generated by combining a sub-pixel of red color with a sub-pixel of green color, and a pixel (such as a pixel B shown in  FIG. 3 ) is generated by combining the sub-pixel of red color with a sub-pixel of blue color. In this way, the Pentile data of RGB is converted to data of pixels each consisting of a sub-pixel of red color and a sub-pixel of green color and pixels each consisting of a sub-pixel of red color and a sub-pixel of blue color. 
     The first sending sub-unit  7022  may send each of the generated pixels to the display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data of RGB via the first converting sub-unit  7011 . The selecting and generating sub-unit  7021 , in a case that the Pentile data obtained after conversion are the Pentile data of RGB, selects one color from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB, and generates a pixel by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors, where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of RGB. The first sending sub-unit  7022  may send each of the generated pixels to the display drive system. 
     For better understanding of the above embodiment, data exchange between various elements included in the processor is described with a specific example. In a case that the Pentile data are Pentile data of four primary colors, referring to  FIG. 8 , a processor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a converting unit  801  and a sending unit  802 . 
     The converting unit  801  includes a second converting sub-unit  8011 . 
     The sending unit  802  includes a classifying sub-unit  8021 , a generating sub-unit  8022  and a second sending sub-unit  8023 . 
     The second converting sub-unit  8011  is configured to convert the RGB data into Pentile data of four primary colors, and then send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the classifying sub-unit  8021 . The Pentile data of four primary colors converted from the RGB data include Pentile data of RGBW, Pentile data of RGBY, and the like. In practice, the arrangement of RGBW is achieved by adding a white color on the basis of tricolor, and the arrangement of RGBY is achieved by adding a yellow color on the basis of tricolor. 
     The classifying sub-unit  8021  is configured to, in a case that the Pentile data obtained after conversion are the Pentile data of four primary colors, classify four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors into two groups, and then send the classification result to the generating sub-unit  8022 . In practice, the processor may select randomly two different colors to be grouped together. 
     The generating sub-unit  8022  is configured to generate a pixel using two sub-pixels of different colors in each of the two groups. Since the Pentile data of four primary colors include multiple sub-pixels, multiple such pixels may be generated. Then the generating sub-unit  8022  sends the generated pixels to the second sending sub-unit  8023 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of RGBW Pentile. In  FIG. 5 , each rectangle block represents a sub-pixel, and text in the rectangle block indicates a color of the sub-pixel. RGBW Pentile includes four colors, namely, red color, blue color, green color and white color. Assuming that blue color is grouped with white color while green color is grouped with red color, a pixel (such as a pixel C shown in  FIG. 5 ) is generated using a sub-pixel of blue color and a sub-pixel of white color, and a pixel (such as a pixel D shown in  FIG. 5 ) is generated using a sub-pixel of green color and a sub-pixel of red color. 
     The second sending sub-unit  8023  sends each of the generated pixels to a display drive system, and the display drive system sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to a display system. 
     It should be noted that the processor, the display drive system and the display system are configured in a same terminal device. 
     In the embodiment, the processor converts the RGB data into the Pentile data of four primary colors via the converting sub-unit  8011 , classifies four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors into two groups via the classifying sub-unit  8021 , generates a pixel using two sub-pixels of different colors in each of the two groups via the generating sub-unit  8022 , where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of four primary colors, and then sends each of the generated pixels to the display drive system via the second sending sub-unit  8023 . In this way, only two sub-pixels are transmitted to the display drive system at a time by the original processor of the terminal device, thereby not only saving the costs of hardware but also reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     A terminal device for performing the above data transmission method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described hereinafter. Reference is made to  FIG. 9 , which show a basic logic structure of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal device includes a processor  901 , a display drive system  902  and a display system  903 . 
     The processor  901  is configured to convert RGB data into Pentile data, and send the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system  902 . 
     The display drive system  902  is configured to send a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . 
     The display system  903  is configured to display an image based on the received drive signal. 
     In the embodiment, the processor  901  converts the RGB data into the Pentile data, and sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system  902 . The display drive system  902  sends the drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . The display system  903  displays the image based on the received drive signal. In this way, no additional chip is needed, thereby saving the costs of hardware and reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     For better understanding of the above embodiment, data exchange between various elements included in the terminal device is described with a specific example. Referring to  FIG. 9  again, a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor  901 , a display drive system  902  and a display system  903 . 
     The processor  901  is configured to convert the RGB data into Pentile data of RGB, select one color from three different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of RGB, and generate a pixel by combining a sub-pixel of the selected one color serving as a common sub-pixel with a sub-pixel of each of two different unselected colors, where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of RGB, and then send each of the generated pixels to the display drive system  902 . 
     The display drive system  902  is configured to send a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . 
     The display system  903  is configured to display an image based on the received drive signal. 
     In the embodiment, the terminal device converts the RGB data via the processor  901 , and sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system  902 . The display drive system  902  then sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . The display system  903  displays the image based on the received drive signal. In this way, only two sub-pixels are transmitted to the display drive system at a time by the original processor of the terminal device, thereby not only saving the costs of hardware but also reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     For better understanding of the above embodiment, data exchange between various elements included in the terminal device is described with a specific example. Referring to  FIG. 9  again, a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor  901 , a display drive system  902  and a display system  903 . 
     The processor  901  is configured to convert the RGB data into Pentile data of four primary colors, classify four different colors of sub-pixels contained in the Pentile data of four primary colors into two groups, generate a pixel using two sub-pixels of different colors in each of the two groups, where multiple such pixels are generated from the Pentile data of four primary colors, and send each of the generated pixels to the display drive system  902 . 
     The display drive system  902  is configured to send a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . 
     The display system  903  is configured to display an image based on the received drive signal. 
     In the embodiment, the terminal device converts the RGB data via the processor  901 , and sends the Pentile data obtained after conversion to the display drive system  902 . The display drive system  902  then sends a drive signal, which is generated by converting the Pentile data, to the display system  903 . The display system  903  displays the image based on the received drive signal. In this way, only two sub-pixels are transmitted to the display drive system at a time by the original processor of the terminal device, thereby not only saving the costs of hardware but also reducing the power consumption for transmission. 
     It should be noted that, the processor in the embodiments of the present disclosure is the original central processing unit of the terminal device, and no additional chip or hardware is added into the terminal device. 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that, for a convenient and concise description, the operation procedure of the system, devices and units described above are not described herein and reference may be made to corresponding procedures of the method embodiments described previously. 
     The embodiments described above are only for illustrating the technical solutions of the present disclosure rather than for limiting the disclosure. Although the disclosure is described in detail with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that amendments may be made to the technical solutions in the embodiments, or equivalent substitutions may be made to some technical features. The amendments or substitutions, however, do not cause the nature of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure.