Abstract:
A method for transmitting image data in a display is provided. The method includes the steps of: sending first pixel data through a first bus to a source driver; sending second pixel data through a second bus to the source driver; reorganizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data in the source driver; and generating third pixel data according to the reorganization of the first pixel data and the second pixel data for channels in the source driver. A display is also disclosed herein.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for transmitting image data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting image data through reduced swing differential signaling (RSDS) transmission interfaces to a driver in a display. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Reduced swing differential signaling (RSDS) is a differential interface with a nominal signal swing of 200 mV. It defines the output characteristics of a transmitter and the inputs of a receiver along with the protocol for a chip-to-chip interface between timing controllers and drivers. It also retains many benefits such as high noise immunity, high data rate, low EMI characteristics and low power dissipation. 
     However, whenever image data including a plurality of pixel values, each of which is represented by a plurality of bits, is transmitted through the RSDS transmission interface from the timing controller to the driver in a display, the image data are usually transmitted bit by bit from a single timing controller. As a result, the image data transmission between the timing controller and the driver is usually very slow and inefficient. Thus, the image data transmission cannot be performed efficiently, and the operation speed of the display cannot be increased, either. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a display is provided. The display includes a first timing controller, a second timing controller and a source driver. The first timing controller includes a first transmitter connected to a first bus, for sending first pixel data through the first bus. The second timing controller includes a second transmitter connected to a second bus, for sending second pixel data through the second bus. The source driver includes a receiver and plural channels, in which the receiver is connected to the first bus and the second bus, for receiving the first pixel data and the second pixel data, and reorganizes the first pixel data and the second pixel data to generate third pixel data, based on a bus mode, for the channels. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting image data in a display is provided. The method includes the steps of: sending first pixel data through a first bus to a source driver; sending second pixel data through a second bus to the source driver; reorganizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data in the source driver; and generating third pixel data according to the reorganization of the first pixel data and the second pixel data for channels in the source driver. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a general block diagram of a display according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a timing diagram of data transmission in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not restrictive. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a general block diagram of a display according to one embodiment of the present invention. The display includes a first timing controller  100 , a second timing controller  110 , and a source driver  120 . The first timing controller  100  includes a transmitter  102 , which is for example a reduced swing differential signaling (RSDS). The second timing controller  110  includes a transmitter  112 , which is a reduced swing differential signaling (RSDS) transmitter for example. The transmitters  102  and  112  are respectively connected to buses  104  and  114 , for separately sending first pixel data and second pixel data through the buses  104  and  114  to the source driver  120 . 
     The source driver  120  includes a receiver  122  and plural channels  124 , in which the receiver  122  can be embodied as a line buffer. The receiver  122  is connected to the buses  104  and  114  and receives the first pixel data and the second pixel data respectively from the first timing controller  100  and the second timing controller  110 . The first pixel data include data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , and etc. One data, for example A 0 , corresponds to a pixel of a display. The second pixel data include data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and etc. 
     Further, the receiver  122  reorganizes the first pixel data and the second pixel data to generate third pixel data, based on a bus mode, for the channels  124 . In one embodiment, the receiver  122  alternatively selects the data in the first pixel data and the data in the second pixel data to be outputted as the third pixel data for the channels  124 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a timing diagram of data transmission in  FIG. 1 . Hereinafter, bus A represents the bus  104  for transmitting the first pixel data (e.g. A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . ) from the first timing controller  100 , bus B represents the bus  114  for transmitting the second pixel data (e.g. B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . ) from the second timing controller  110 , and bus C represents the bus (not shown) for the receiver  122  to transmit the third pixel data to the channels  124 . 
     First, if an enable input/output signal (EIO) is activated, the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . are sent respectively from the first timing controller  100  and the second timing controller  110  to the receiver  122  of the source driver  120 . Then, the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . are reorganized by the receiver  122  of the source driver  120 , and the third pixel data are generated according to the reorganization of the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . . In the present embodiment, the data transmission can be separately performed under three kinds of bus mode, i.e. ABAB, AABB and AAAA mode. If the bus mode is ABAB mode, the receiver  122  alternatively selects one of the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and one of the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . to be outputted as the third pixel data. Specifically, the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . are reorganized to be the third pixel data A 0 , B 0 , A 1 , B 1 , A 2 , B 2 , A 3 , B 3 , . . . for the bus C to transmit. In one embodiment, the first timing controller  100  and the second timing controller  110  both send the pixel data at a first clock rate, and the receiver  122  outputs the third pixel data for the channels at a second clock rate twice the first clock rate. 
     In another aspect, if the bus mode is ABAB mode, the receiver  122  alternatively selects two of the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and two of the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . to be outputted as the third pixel data. Specifically, the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . and the second pixel data B 0 , B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . are reorganized to be the third pixel data A 0 , A 1 , B 0 , B 1 , A 2 , A 3 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . for the bus C to transmit. 
     In yet another aspect, if the bus mode is AAAA mode, the second timing controller  110  is disabled and only the first timing controller  100  sends the first pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . to the receiver  122 . At that moment, the bus C only transmits the pixel data A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , and etc. 
     For the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the method for transmitting the image data through the RSDS transmission interfaces can be provided to improve the efficiency and speed of the image data transmission, so as to further improve the operation speed of the display. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.