System and method for controlling display of mobile terminal

<u>BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION</u>

1. <u>Field of the Invention</u>

0001The invention relates to a mobile terminal and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal.

2.

<u>Background of the Related Art</u>

0002In general, screen information (data) to be displayed on a display unit of a mobile terminal is configured and stored in an external memory such as a Random Access Memory (RAM). There are two methods typically used to display the screen information stored in the external memory.

0003A first related art display method is shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>. In this first method, a controller, such as a central processing unit (CPU) is used to configure and output the screen information. More specifically, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, a controller 13 records screen data in a screen output buffer (not shown) of an external memory 12, reads the screen data from the screen output buffer, and outputs the data to a display unit 11.

0004However, this reading/writing of display data from/into the external memory 12 and outputting data to the display unit 11 requires multiple clock cycles, thus restricting performance of the display unit 11. More specifically, by using this first display method, the reading/writing time associated with the external memory 12 and the controller 13, as well as a transfer rate between the external memory 12 and the controller 13, limit the display speed, and thus the type of display unit that can be used with the related art mobile terminal.

0005A second related art display method is shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref>. In this second method, screen data is configured by a controller and output by an external memory. More specifically, as shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref>, a controller 23 configures screen data in a screen output buffer (not shown) of an external memory 22, and the external memory 22 outputs the configured screen data directly to the display unit 21.

0006This second related art display method is advantageous in that a lesser number of clock cycles are required for the transfer of screen information, and display data can be output to the display unit 21 more quickly than in the first related art display method.

0007However, this second related display method suffers deficiencies similar to this first method, in that performance of the display unit is still somewhat limited by the reading/writing time required by the external memory 22, a transfer rate between the external memory 22 and the controller 23, and a transfer rate between the external memory 22 and the display unit 21.

0008Thus, when screen data is configured in an external memory in accordance with these related art display methods, performance of the display unit is limited by the performance of the external memory and the interface speed. That is, since the output speed of the display unit is limited by a reading/writing time from/into the external memory by the controller, a data transfer rate between the external memory and the controller, and a data transfer rate between the external memory and the display unit, the related art mobile terminal cannot take advantage of the enhanced display capabilities associated with a high performance display unit.

0009<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1411490A1"><text>EP 1 411 490 A1</text></patcit> related to <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO03001498A1"><text>WO 03/001 498 A1</text></patcit> discloses a mobile telephone including a microcomputer and an image display device. The image display device comprises a display controller with an image memory as well as a drive section to drive a display section, for example a display panel. The microcontroller transfers image data to the display controller of the image display device. The display controller drives the image memory for storing screen output data in a normal mode or in an electric power saving mode.

<u>SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION</u>

0010An object of the invention is to provide a mobile terminal which can take advantage of the enhanced display capabilities of a high performance display unit.

0011To achieve the above object, there is provided a mobile terminal in accordance with claim 1. Preferably, the screen output buffer may be allocated to a certain region of the internal memory.

0012Preferably, the internal memory is a random access memory (RAM).

0013To achieve the above object, there is further provided a method according to claim 6.

0014Writing and reading operation of the screen output buffer is performed according to a clock cycle of an internal bus of the central processing unit and the red screen output data is outputted through a display interface of the central processing unit.

0015Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

0016The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, wherein:

0017<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> shows a related art display control system in accordance with a first related art display method;

0018<figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> shows a related art display control system in accordance with a second related art display method;

0019<figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> shows a system for controlling a display of a mobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

0020<figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref> is a flow chart of a method for controlling a display of a mobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

<u>DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS</u>

0021A system and method for controlling a high performance display unit of a mobile terminal by using a memory provided in a controller, such as, for example, a CPU, is provided. In this system and method, screen output data is configured by an internal memory of the controller, and not by an external memory of the controller, and screen output data is transmitted directly from the internal memory to the display unit. Further, the screen output buffer, which is, in the related art, allocated to the external memory of the controller, is instead allocated to the internal memory region of the controller, and an interface is provided which allows the screen output data to be output directly from the controller to the display unit. Using this system and method, screen information (data) may be configured and transmitted based on a bus clock cycle of a high speed controller so as to fully utilize the enhanced display characteristics associated with a high performance display unit.

0022As shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, a display control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a controller 30 for outputting screen information (data). The screen information is stored in an internal memory 31 of the controller 30, and is output through a display interface 32. A display unit 40 is provided for displaying the screen information output by the controller 30.

0023A screen output buffer 31a for temporarily storing data to be output to the display unit 40 is allocated a predetermined region of the internal memory 31. The internal memory 31 may be a RAM, or any other such data storage device. Data writing/reading to/from the screen output buffer 31a is performed based on an internal bus clock cycle of the controller 30. The output buffer and internal memory may be located within a same chip, package, or module as other circuits of the controller, as well as the same printed circuit board. The display interface may also be located on the same chip, package, module, or board.

0024The operation of the system for controlling display of a mobile terminal constructed as described above will now be described with reference to <figref idref="f0002">Figures 3</figref> and <figref idref="f0003">4</figref>.

0025As shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref>, a predetermined region of the internal memory 31 is allocated as a region for the screen output buffer 31a (step S10). The predetermined region allocated for the screen output buffer 31a may be determined by a manufacturer.

0026When screen information is provided by, for example, an external source, the controller 30 configures the screen data by storing the input screen information in the screen output buffer 31a (step S11). The screen data stored in the screen output buffer 31a is continuously changed based on input screen information, and reading/writing of data from/to the screen output buffer 31a is performed based on an internal bus clock cycle associated with a control bus of the controller 30.

0027Thereafter, the controller 30 checks for a request to output or to change the configured screen data (step S12). If a request for outputting or changing the screen data is detected, the controller 30 changes the screen data stored in the screen output buffer 31a (step S13) and outputs the changed screen data to the display interface 32 via the screen output buffer 31a (step S14). A data bus is provided for transmitting and receiving the screen data between the internal memory 31 and the display interface 32. Once the screen data is received by the display interface 32, the display interface 32 can transmit screen data to the display unit 40. Thus, screen data transferred to the display interface 32 through the data bus after being read from the screen output buffer 31a is transferred to the display unit 40 through the data bus, thereby updating the screen of the display unit 40 (step S15).

0028In this manner, screen data stored in the internal memory is output directly to the external display unit based on a clock cycle of the controller. This allows for a high transfer rate of the screen data due to the high processing rate of the internal memory. Thus, screen data can be displayed and updated on a high performance display unit at an optimum speed.

0029As embodied and broadly described herein, the system and method for controlling a high performance display unit used for a mobile terminal have the following advantages.

0030That is, the internal memory of the controller includes a screen output buffer region to store screen data, and the stored screen data is directly transmitted to the display unit, thereby increasing display speed.

0031Therefore, the system and method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal as embodied and broadly described herein is capable of improving an output speed of a display unit, and of achieving optimum screen output efficiency by using a high performance display unit.

0032The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.