Current-Selectable LED Display Pixel Clusters for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat-panel displays face inefficiencies in power usage, particularly in active-matrix systems where row activation rates are slower than passive-matrix systems, leading to increased power consumption and reduced operating times in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A current-selectable LED display architecture that groups pixels into clusters, each controlled by a cluster controller with a selectable current source, allowing for varying current levels to be applied to pixels based on image data, enabling efficient power usage and reduced leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If active-matrix control scheme is used, then pixels can be controlled individually with stored data, but row activation rate becomes much slower than passive-matrix systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into clusters of pixels (e.g., 2x2 or larger clusters) where each cluster is controlled by a single control circuit rather than requiring individual pixel control. This segmentation allows the control scheme to operate more similarly to passive-matrix systems with faster row activation rates, while still maintaining some level of individual pixel control through the cluster architecture.
2Productivity
If active-matrix control scheme is used, then data can be concurrently provided to and stored in pixels, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pixel control functions into a single cluster controller that manages a group of pixels. By combining the control of multiple pixels into one controller with shared current sources, the system reduces the total number of active control circuits needed, thereby lowering overall power consumption while still enabling concurrent data loading to multiple pixels within each cluster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs selectable current sources that can switch between different current levels (e.g., high current for bright areas, low current for dark areas) based on the display content. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the display to optimize power consumption by using lower current levels for darker regions while maintaining the ability to load data concurrently across clusters.
3Illumination intensity
If higher current levels are used to increase luminance, then brightness improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selectable current sources within each cluster controller that can dynamically switch between multiple current levels based on the luminance requirements of the displayed content. This allows the system to use higher current levels only when and where high brightness is needed, while using lower current levels for darker regions, thereby optimizing the trade-off between luminance and power consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces power consumption by optimizing current levels for each pixel cluster, improving power efficiency and reducing visible contouring in darker areas, while maintaining a high number of luminance levels, thus enhancing the display's dynamic range and extending battery life in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
A current-selectable light-emitting-diode (LED) display comprises an array of pixels distributed in rows and columns. Each pixel comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Data Source
AI summary
A current-selectable light-emitting-diode (LED) display includes pixels distributed in an array of rows and columns. The pixels are grouped in mutually exclusive clusters and cluster controllers are connected to each pixel in a cluster of pixels to control the pixels in the cluster to emit light. Each cluster controller comprises a selectable current source. Each of the selectable current sources can include cluster current sources that are responsive to a current-select signal to enable one or more of the cluster current sources. The pixels can include micro-LEDs and the cluster controller can be disposed between the micro-LEDs. The display can be disposed on a display substrate with signal wires. The signal wires can include separate wire segments that are electrically connected through regeneration circuits that regenerate the signals. The display can be an information display or a backlight.