Display Manager Update Accumulation for E-Ink Ghosting Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic paper display devices used in eBook readers and similar devices experience visual effects like ghosting due to frequent updates, which can detract from the user experience and are exacerbated by slow update times and environmental factors such as temperature.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system to delay sending updates to the display device, accumulating them in a buffer until a predetermined time or number is reached, and then sending them as a single update, with the option for a flash update based on window properties and ambient temperature, to minimize ghosting and improve user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If updates are sent frequently to the display device, then the display content is updated in real-time, but visual effects like ghosting occur and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate frequencyVSAvoidghosting visual effect

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual updates into a single accumulated update. The display manager buffers updates during a specified period and then transmits them all at once to the display device, reducing the frequency of update commands and eliminating ghosting visual effects while maintaining real-time content updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic accumulation of updates for a specified duration before transmitting them. The display manager waits for a predetermined period to elapse, during which updates are accumulated in a buffer, then transmits all accumulated updates together. This periodic action pattern reduces update frequency and eliminates harmful visual effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Speed

If updates are sent frequently to the display device, then content changes are reflected immediately, but the slow update time of electronic paper display exacerbates the delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate response speedVSAvoidupdate delay

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary accumulation of updates in a buffer during a specified period before transmission. The display manager prepares multiple updates in advance and then transmits them together, which optimizes the update process for electronic paper displays with slow response times by batching operations rather than sending them individually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple individual update requests into a single accumulated update transmission. By combining multiple updates that would otherwise be sent separately and sequentially, the system reduces the total time loss associated with slow display update mechanisms while maintaining immediate content reflection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple updates are accumulated and sent as a single update, then ghosting is reduced and user experience is improved, but the display update frequency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveghosting visual effectVSAvoidupdate frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic accumulation of updates for a specified duration before transmission. The display manager waits for a predetermined period to elapse, during which updates are accumulated in a buffer, then transmits all accumulated updates together. This periodic action pattern reduces update frequency and eliminates harmful visual effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If flash updates are performed frequently to reset pixels, then visual quality is maintained, but user interaction is blocked during the flash update process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay visual qualityVSAvoiduser interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple flash update operations into a single coordinated flash update. By accumulating flash update requests and executing them together rather than sequentially, the system maintains display visual quality while minimizing the total time users are blocked from interacting with the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9093050B1Determining when to delay sending updates to a display device

Publication Date: 2015.07.28 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

Some examples determine when to accumulate updates to a display device. In some implementations, a display manager may determine that a graphical user interface element, such as a user interface window, has opened or closed. The display manager may accumulate updates to a display device for a period of time or until a predetermined number of the updates have been received. After the period of time has elapsed or after the predetermined number of the updates have been received, the display manager may send a single update to the display device. The single update may include or may be equivalent to the one or more updates.