Edge Illumination Overlay for Display Driver Power Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing edge illumination systems in portable electronic devices increase communication and power consumption by sending full frame edge-illuminated images, which is inefficient and wasteful, especially when the edge illumination graphic changes over time.

Innovation Solution

A display driver system with interface circuitry, graphic memory, and image processing circuitry that receives an edge illumination command from a controller, generates an edge-illuminated image by overlaying an edge illumination graphic on a stored image, and drives the display panel, reducing communication and power usage by sending only the command rather than the full image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full frame edge-illuminated images are sent from controller to display driver, then edge illumination notification function is achieved, but communication bandwidth and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge illumination notification functionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential edge illumination graphic elements from the full frame image and sends them separately as overlay data to the display driver, while the main background image is stored locally in the driver's memory. This extraction principle reduces communication bandwidth and power consumption by transmitting only the necessary notification elements rather than complete frame images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The display image is segmented into two parts: the background image stored in the display driver's memory and the edge illumination graphic overlay sent from the controller. This segmentation allows the system to maintain full edge illumination functionality while significantly reducing the communication burden, as only the smaller overlay portion needs to be transmitted for each notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If full frame edge-illuminated images are sent from controller to display driver, then edge illumination notification function is achieved, but communication data volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge illumination notification functionVSAvoidcommunication data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential edge illumination graphic elements from the full frame image and sends them separately as overlay data to the display driver, while the main background image is stored locally in the driver's memory. This extraction principle reduces communication bandwidth and power consumption by transmitting only the necessary notification elements rather than complete frame images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The display image is segmented into two parts: the background image stored in the display driver's memory and the edge illumination graphic overlay sent from the controller. This segmentation allows the system to maintain full edge illumination functionality while significantly reducing the communication burden, as only the smaller overlay portion needs to be transmitted for each notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230124739A1Edge illumination architecture for display device

Publication Date: 2023.04.20 SYNAPTICS INC

AI summary

A display driver includes first interface circuitry, a graphic memory, image processing circuitry, and drive circuitry. The first interface circuitry is configured to receive an edge illumination command from a controller external to the display driver. The graphic memory is configured to store image data. The image processing circuitry is configured to render an edge-illuminated image by overlaying an edge illumination graphic on a first image corresponding to the image data in response to the edge illumination command. The edge illumination graphic extends along an edge of a display region of a display panel. The drive circuitry is configured to drive the display panel based on the edge-illuminated image.