A Video Graphics Controller for Reconfigurable Automotive Displays

With the advent of reconfigurable flat panel displays in the transportation industry, it becomes necessary to develop a cost effective graphics generator. Since a reconfigurable display can also be used for real-time video (e.g. night vision, rear view camera, cellular video phone), the controller should be able to incorporate video and graphics in the same display. Warning messages, vehicle speed, or other vehicle status could be displayed in a specific “window” within a video scene. This paper will discuss one design approach which allows a flat panel display to show either a full graphics screen, a full video scene, or video with a graphics window of programmable size. To minimize cost, the graphics microprocessor is synchronized with the real-time video, hence no video processing or A/D conversion is required.