Display Driver Chip Clock Overlay for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing clock display methods in tablet devices, particularly those using analog clocks with clock faces and hands, require significant processing power from the CPU/GPU, leading to high power consumption, especially when the screen is in sleep mode due to the need for constant refreshing of the frame buffer.
Innovation Solution
A clock display method where the display driver chip performs time calibration and calculates rotation angles of clock hands based on local and processor temporal information, overlaying hand graphics onto a clock face image, and transmitting the resulting display data to the screen, reducing the load on the CPU/GPU by processing the clock face image independently within the display driver chip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the CPU/GPU calculates and generates analog clock images with constant frame buffer refreshing, then the clock display can be customized with various clock faces and hands, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock image generation function from the CPU/GPU and relocates it to the display driver chip. The display driver chip now independently generates clock images using its own time base and overlay hardware, eliminating the need for continuous CPU/GPU involvement and high-speed interface refreshing, thereby significantly reducing power consumption while preserving clock customization capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The display driver chip is empowered to serve itself by generating clock images independently using its internal time base counter and overlay hardware. The chip monitors its own time base, calculates hand positions, and renders clock images without external processor assistance, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall power consumption
2Measurement precision
If the CPU/GPU generates and refreshes clock images continuously, then accurate time display is maintained, but the processing load and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display driver chip uses its own time base counter to track time and generate clock images independently. The time base counter increments continuously and triggers clock image generation at appropriate intervals, eliminating the need for CPU/GPU intervention while maintaining accurate time display through the chip's own timing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous refreshing, the system uses periodic action where the display driver chip generates clock images at specific intervals based on its time base counter. The overlay hardware updates the display at these periodic intervals rather than requiring continuous high-speed refreshing, reducing power consumption while maintaining visual accuracy
3Productivity
If the CPU/GPU is used for clock image generation, then high processing capability is available, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock generation functionality from the high-performance CPU/GPU and relocates it to the display driver chip. This extraction allows the CPU/GPU to be liberated for other tasks while the display driver chip handles clock generation using its dedicated time base and overlay hardware, reducing overall device power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The display driver chip is designed with multi-functionality, serving both its traditional display driving role and the additional function of clock image generation. By integrating the time base counter and overlay hardware into the display driver chip, the system achieves versatile functionality without adding separate dedicated hardware, reducing complexity and power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A clock display method, a computer device, a storage medium are provided. The method includes: performing time calibration by display driver chip based on local temporal information and processor temporal information to obtain calibrated temporal information; determining rotation angles of respective hand graphics forming display clock face according to the calibrated temporal information; retrieving a clock face image with no hands and at least one hand graphic which are locally stored; overlaying the at least one hand graphic onto the clock face image with no hands according to rotation angle of each hand graphic to obtain a clock face image corresponding to the calibrated temporal information; obtaining a background image issued by video processor, overlaying the clock face image onto the background image to obtain display clock face data, then transmitting the display clock face data to display screen to show the calibrated temporal information.