Display Driver Synchronization Signal Generation for Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing data traffic between mobile application processors and display driver ICs, driven by improved image resolution, leads to rising power consumption, particularly in smartphones that frequently display multimedia data, resulting in reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
An operation method for a display driver that generates an internal synchronization signal based on a synchronization packet from a host, allowing mode changes between video and command modes, and adjusts the generation timing of a tearing effect control signal to optimize power usage by bypassing frame memory for moving images and using it for still images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the display driver operates in video mode bypassing frame memory for moving images, then power consumption is reduced, but synchronization accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The display driver generates an internal synchronization signal in advance based on the synchronization signal from the host before processing image data. This preliminary generation of synchronization timing ensures that even when bypassing frame memory in video mode, the display maintains accurate synchronization with the incoming data stream, preventing display artifacts while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an internal synchronization signal as an intermediary between the host's synchronization signal and the display output. This internal signal mediates the timing relationship, allowing the system to operate in low-power video mode while maintaining synchronization accuracy through the intermediary timing reference.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the display driver switches between video mode and command mode, then adaptability to different image types is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display driver is designed with multi-functionality to operate in both video mode (bypassing frame memory) and command mode (using frame memory) within the same hardware architecture. By making the frame memory path configurable rather than dedicated, the system achieves versatility in handling different image types without requiring separate hardware paths, thereby controlling complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display driver dynamically switches between video mode and command mode based on the type of image data being processed. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements (moving images vs. still images) by changing the data path configuration in real-time, providing versatility without permanent hardware complexity for each mode.
3Reliability
If the display driver uses frame memory for still images, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display driver dynamically configures the data path based on image type. For still images, it routes data through frame memory to ensure quality; for moving images, it bypasses frame memory to reduce power consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both image quality and power consumption depending on the specific operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing paths to different types of image data based on their specific requirements. Still images receive the higher-quality frame memory processing path, while moving images use the lower-power direct path. This local quality approach ensures that power-consuming high-quality processing is applied only where necessary, optimizing the balance between image quality and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation method of a display driver includes generating a count value by counting a period of a synchronization signal related to a synchronization packet received from a host, receiving a mode change command from the host, the mode change command indicating a change from a video mode transmitting first image data to a display by bypassing a frame memory to a command mode transmitting second image data to the display through the frame memory, and generating an internal synchronization signal having a period substantially equal to the period of the synchronization signal by using the count value based on the mode change command after a last pulse of the synchronization signal is generated. A time interval between the last pulse and a first pulse of the internal synchronization signal is equal to the period of the synchronization signal.