Display Panel Power Management for Idle Image Updates

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Display panels face challenges in optimizing power consumption during self-refresh modes, particularly when dealing with full frame idle images, new full frame updates, and partial frame updates, as these updates are not always synchronized with frame update intervals.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of systems and techniques that provide notifications to display modules about transitions between full frame idle images, new full frame updates, and partial frame updates, allowing for independent power management decisions without relying on control from image source circuitry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If self-refresh mode is used to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to handle unsynchronized frame updates (full frame and partial frame) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidability to handle unsynchronized frame updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is divided into multiple independent scan lines that can be updated independently. Partial frame updates are applied to specific scan line segments rather than requiring a complete full frame refresh, allowing the system to maintain self-refresh mode while handling selective updates efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the refresh behavior based on the type of update received. When full frame updates are detected, the panel exits self-refresh mode; when partial frame updates are detected, it maintains self-refresh mode and applies updates selectively to affected scan lines, optimizing power consumption adaptively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If continuous monitoring for image updates is implemented, then adaptability to arbitrary user interactions is improved, but power reduction benefits of self-refresh techniques deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponsiveness to user interactionsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel includes on-panel circuitry that autonomously monitors for update signals and determines whether to exit self-refresh mode or apply partial updates. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous host processor intervention, maintaining power efficiency while enabling responsive update handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling at frame intervals to detect update signals. The panel checks for new frame data at predetermined intervals, allowing it to remain in low-power self-refresh mode between checks while still being able to respond to user interactions when updates occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If full frame updates are performed at regular intervals, then image freshness is maintained, but power consumption increases compared to selective updates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage freshnessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial frame updates on only the scan lines that contain changed content rather than refreshing the entire frame. This partial action approach maintains image freshness for updated regions while avoiding unnecessary power consumption from refreshing unchanged regions, achieving energy efficiency without sacrificing display quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12265439B2Co-existence of full frame and partial frame idle image updates

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Disclosed herein are techniques to coordinate power management between a platform and a panel. Provided are apparatuses, techniques, and circuitry to determine whether to initiate power management features in a panel and send a signal from a platform to the panel including an indication that no frame updates are expected and power management functions can be initiated.