Display Engine Prefetch to Cache During Memory Blackout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing hardware, particularly in mobile devices, faces significant power consumption challenges, leading to reduced operating duration due to high energy usage, necessitating innovative methods to minimize power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The technique involves prefetching display data into cache memory during a memory 'black-out' period caused by switching clock frequencies, allowing data to be read from the cache instead of the main memory, thereby reducing power usage and preventing display anomalies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the memory switches clock frequencies to reduce power consumption, then power usage is reduced, but display data cannot be read during the black-out period causing display anomalies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the upcoming memory black-out period and prefetching display data into a local buffer before the black-out occurs. This allows the display controller to read from the buffer during the black-out period when main memory is inaccessible, preventing display anomalies while maintaining power-saving frequency switching operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system reads display data from main memory during black-out period, then display data is obtained, but power consumption increases due to memory access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay data availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary buffer that stores display data prefetched before the memory black-out period. During the black-out period, the display controller reads from this intermediary buffer instead of accessing the main memory, thereby maintaining display functionality while avoiding the high power consumption associated with memory access during frequency switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the memory operates at high clock frequency continuously, then display data is always available, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic action by switching the memory clock frequency based on operational needs. The memory operates at high frequency when data access is required and switches to low frequency during periods when display data has been prefetched into the buffer. This periodic switching maintains high productivity when needed while reducing power consumption during buffer-fed display periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11783799B2Display engine initiated prefetch to system cache to tolerate memory long blackout

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 ATI TECHNOLOGIES ULC

AI summary

A disclosed technique includes prefetching display data into a cache memory, wherein the display data includes data to be displayed on a display during a memory black-out period for a memory; triggering the memory black-out period; and during the black-out period, reading from the cache memory to obtain data to be displayed on the display.