Display Backlight Power Redirection for Processor Burst Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for providing a temporary power boost to processors in computer systems, such as Burst Processing, face challenges in managing heat and fitting into slim form factors due to the size and bulkiness of capacitors used to store extra power.
Innovation Solution
Redirecting power from a display's backlight to a System on a Chip (SoC) by temporarily reducing the display's power budget to zero and reallocating it to the SoC for burst processing, using techniques like pulse width modulation to minimize perceptible luminance changes and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If extra power is stored in a capacitor during normal operation to provide increased power during burst processing, then the processor can achieve higher clock speeds for measurable performance increase, but the capacitor tends to be large and bulky, not fitting into the slim form factor requirements of thin devices
Solution Approach 1:
The display backlight serves as an intermediary power source. Instead of using a dedicated capacitor, the system temporarily reduces power to the display backlight and redirects that power to the processor, enabling burst processing without requiring additional bulk power storage components.
Solution Approach 2:
The display backlight power budget is repurposed to serve dual functions: normally it provides illumination, but during burst processing it becomes a temporary power source for the processor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated power storage hardware.
2Productivity
If the processor runs at increased clock speeds for a substantial time period to achieve performance improvement, then productivity increases, but it could cause overheating or other negative effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic burst processing where the processor operates at high clock speeds for short intervals (milliseconds or microseconds) followed by normal operation. This periodic high-performance mode allows productivity gains while the brief duration prevents excessive heat accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor rushes through computational tasks at high speed for very short periods, completing necessary work before heat buildup becomes problematic. This approach skips the need for sustained high-power operation that would cause overheating.
3Productivity
If power is temporarily reduced to the display to redirect it to the processor for burst processing, then the processor can achieve higher performance, but the display luminance may change
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pulse width modulation to rapidly switch the backlight power, creating perceptual illusions that maintain average luminance. By controlling the duty cycle of power delivery, the display maintains its visual characteristics while power is temporarily redirected to the processor during brief intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight power is modulated periodically at frequencies that create the perception of stable luminance. These rapid on-off cycles are too fast for human vision to detect, allowing power redistribution without noticeable display quality degradation.
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
Enables efficient power redistribution for burst processing without significant overheating, maintaining performance while adhering to slim form factor requirements by utilizing existing power sources effectively.
Implementation Method 1
using techniques like pulse width modulation to minimize perceptible luminance changes
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, power may be temporarily removed from a first portion of a computer system (such as a display), and that power redirected to a second portion (such as a processor or System on a Chip), so that extra performance may be obtained from the second portion without exceeding the power budget for the system. If the first portion is a display, the time period of removed power may be short enough that the absence of luminance during that time period will not be noticeable to the human vision system. In a similar embodiment, power may be delivered to the first portion using pulse width modulation, using the time between pulses to redirect power to the other portion.