Display Panel Refresh Rate Segmentation for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices face power inefficiencies when refreshing both moving and static image data at the same rate, as they require frequent updates of moving image data and infrequent updates of static image data, leading to unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a display panel with separate refresh rates for moving and static image areas, where the moving image area is refreshed at a higher rate (e.g., 60 Hz) and the static image area is refreshed at a lower rate (e.g., 20 Hz), utilizing thin-film transistors (TFTs) to control the refresh rates and reduce unnecessary data transmission for static image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If both moving and static image areas are refreshed at the same high rate, then moving image quality is maintained, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is divided into two distinct regions: a moving image area and a static image area. Each region is independently controlled with different refresh rates. The moving image area is refreshed at a first refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz) while the static image area is refreshed at a second refresh rate (e.g., 20Hz), allowing differentiated power management based on content type.
Solution Approach 2:
Different refresh rates are applied to different spatial regions of the display panel. The moving image area receives high-frequency updates while the static image area receives low-frequency updates. This local differentiation optimizes power consumption by matching refresh frequency to actual content requirements in each region.
2Reliability
If static image data is refreshed frequently, then display uniformity is maintained, but unnecessary power consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The static image area is refreshed at reduced intervals (e.g., every 3rd frame or at 20Hz instead of 60Hz). This periodic refresh approach maintains display uniformity and prevents image retention artifacts while consuming less power compared to continuous high-frequency refreshing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of refreshing the entire display panel at high frequency, only the necessary portions are refreshed at the required rate. The static image area receives partial refreshes at lower frequency, providing just enough updates to maintain display quality without excessive power consumption.
3Device complexity
If the display panel uses a single refresh rate for all areas, then control is simplified, but power efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is segmented into moving and static image areas with independent refresh rate control. This segmentation enables differentiated power management while using existing display controller capabilities to manage the dual refresh rates without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adjusts refresh rates based on content type. The controller detects whether content is moving or static and applies appropriate refresh rates accordingly, enabling adaptive power management that responds to actual display requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a computing device can include a processor resource and a non-transitory memory resource storing machine-readable instructions to cause the processor resource to receive a signal from a graphics processing unit, cause, based on the signal, a first portion of image data to be sent to a first pixel on a moving image area of the display panel at a first refresh rate over a plurality of frames in response to a first thin film transistor (TFT) associated with the first pixel being on, and cause, based on the signal, a second portion of the image data to be sent to a second pixel on a static image area of the display panel at a second refresh rate over the plurality of frames.