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

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.

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.

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;

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