Display Refresh Rate Control via Synchronization Signal Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in seamlessly changing refresh rates, especially in low-illuminance environments, leading to increased current consumption due to restricted refresh rate changes and unnecessary rendering updates.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device and method that combine software and hardware modulation to efficiently change refresh rates by adjusting synchronization signal frequencies and blank areas in frame information, reducing current consumption while maintaining seamless transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refresh rate is restricted in low-illuminance environments to prevent visible changes, then the screen must continuously update at a higher refresh rate, but this leads to increased current consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on environmental conditions (illuminance levels) and device states (temperature, usage patterns). The system transitions between different refresh rate modes seamlessly by combining hardware modulation (display driving circuit frequency adjustment) and software modulation (rendering rate adjustment), allowing the display to adapt its refresh characteristics in real-time rather than being restricted to fixed high refresh rates in low-illuminance environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously to achieve seamless refresh rate transitions: (1) frequency of synchronization signals from the display driving circuit, (2) rendering rates controlled by the processor, and (3) timing parameters for frame buffering. By coordinating changes in these parameters, the system can switch between refresh rates without visible artifacts while optimizing power consumption based on current operational conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the refresh rate is changed frequently to improve reactivity and efficiency, then current consumption is reduced, but this may cause visible changes and interference from peripheral devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple intermediary layers between the display content generation and the actual display output: (1) a frame buffer that decouples rendering from display refresh, (2) synchronization signal generation that mediates between processor output and display input, and (3) coordinated control of rendering rates and refresh rates. These intermediaries allow the system to change refresh rates smoothly without causing visible artifacts or interfering with peripheral devices, while still achieving power savings through optimized refresh rate selection.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hardware modulation is used to change refresh rate, then current consumption is reduced, but the change may be visible in low-illuminance environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges hardware modulation (adjusting display driving circuit synchronization signal frequencies) with software modulation (adjusting processor rendering rates and frame buffering strategies). This combination allows the system to achieve the power savings of hardware refresh rate changes while using software-controlled rendering and frame timing to mask or smooth out any visible transitions, particularly in low-illuminance environments where human eyes are more sensitive to refresh rate changes.
Data Source
AI summary
On an electronic device which includes a display device comprising a display driving circuit, a processor, and a memory a method for changing a refresh rate of the display device includes: changing at least one of a first parameter, a second parameter, or a third parameter in response to identifying the occurrence of at least one of a scan rate change request or a change in scan rate change restriction, and applying the changed parameter among the first parameter, the second parameter, and the third parameter. The first parameter is the frequency of a first synchronization signal generated in the display driving circuit, the second parameter is the increase or decrease in a blank area to substitute for a portion of active video area in frame information, and the third parameter is the frequency of a second synchronization signal for rendering.