Dynamic Net Power Control for OLED and LCD Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display systems face challenges in maintaining consistent brightness due to sudden fluctuations in panel loading, leading to reduced image intensity and potential power overload, as conventional net power control (NPC) methods uniformly dim all emitters regardless of scene content, causing noticeable brightness changes and artifacts.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic NPC function that adjusts based on scene-specific metadata, allowing for stable global gain levels within a scene by precomputing NPC functions for expected panel loads and applying different functions for distinct scenes to minimize brightness fluctuations and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If conventional net power control (NPC) methods are used to reduce power consumption by dimming all emitters uniformly, then power demand is reduced, but brightness stability deteriorates and noticeable brightness changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbrightness stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of emitters based on their spatial distribution and intensity requirements. Instead of uniform dimming, the system identifies and protects critical emitter regions that maintain image quality, applying selective brightness adjustment only where necessary to preserve local image characteristics while achieving global power reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the NPC function adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts the NPC function based on real-time analysis of image content, emitter intensity distributions, and power consumption levels, allowing the brightness reduction strategy to evolve and optimize itself during operation to maintain image quality while reducing power usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Illumination intensity

If the total number of active emitters increases to display brighter images, then image brightness improves, but power demand increases and may exceed system capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage brightnessVSAvoidpower demand
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively activating only the necessary subset of emitters required to achieve the desired image brightness and quality, rather than uniformly activating all emitters. The system determines the minimum required emitter activation level and applies NPC only to the extent necessary to manage power demand, avoiding excessive power consumption while maintaining adequate image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If a static NPC function is used to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different scenes and lighting conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol complexityVSAvoidscene adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining multiple NPC function profiles corresponding to different scene types and lighting conditions. The system analyzes incoming image data to identify the current scene category and pre-selects the appropriate NPC function profile before full processing begins, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining high adaptability to different viewing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3200181B1Dynamic net power control for OLED and local dimming LCD displays
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3200181B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3200181B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3200181B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method of power control of a display system, the method including receiving dynamic metadata corresponding to input image data, determining a panel load level of the display system based on the dynamic metadata, and applying a first net power control (NPC) function to the display system during a first scene based on the panel load level.