Microcontroller Display Detection with Powered-Down GPU

Solution Overview

Problem

Graphics processing units (GPUs) in graphics cards consume significant power and generate heat, leading to noise, and simply powering them off is unattractive due to long boot processes and loss of functionality.

Innovation Solution

A microcontroller with a parallel connection to the display control bus detects display device changes even when the GPU is in a low power state, notifying the motherboard to initiate a sequence to bring the GPU out of the low power state, allowing for reduced power consumption and noise without sacrificing performance or functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the GPU is powered off to reduce power consumption, heat and noise generation, then power consumption is reduced, but display detection functionality is lost and long boot processes are required when graphics processing load is present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay detection functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the graphics card into two independent parts: the GPU that can be powered down to save energy, and the microcontroller that remains powered on to maintain display detection functionality. This segmentation allows the GPU to be in a low power state while the microcontroller continues to poll the display interface and detect display devices, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microcontroller acts as an intermediary between the display interface and the GPU. It polls the display interface to detect display devices and communicates this information to the system, eliminating the need for the GPU to be fully powered on for display detection. This intermediary approach allows the GPU to remain in a low power state while maintaining detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the GPU is powered off to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but long boot processes occur when graphics processing load is present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidboot process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The microcontroller performs preliminary actions by continuously polling the display interface and maintaining display detection capability even when the GPU is powered down. This preliminary preparation ensures that when graphics processing load is present and the GPU needs to be activated, the system is already aware of display device presence, reducing the effective boot time and functional recovery time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If the GPU is powered off to reduce heat generation, then heat generation is reduced, but display detection functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat generationVSAvoiddisplay detection functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the graphics card into two independent parts: the GPU that can be powered down to save energy, and the microcontroller that remains powered on to maintain display detection functionality. This segmentation allows the GPU to be in a low power state while the microcontroller continues to poll the display interface and detect display devices, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microcontroller acts as an intermediary between the display interface and the GPU. It polls the display interface to detect display devices and communicates this information to the system, eliminating the need for the GPU to be fully powered on for display detection. This intermediary approach allows the GPU to remain in a low power state while maintaining detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8941672B1Method for identifying a display when a GPU connected to the display is powered down

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for identifying a display when a graphics processing unit (GPU) connected to the display via a display control bus is in a low power state. By providing a separate microcontroller with a parallel connection to the display control bus, the microcontroller may detect the presence of a display device even when the GPU is in the low power state. In response to detecting the display device, the microcontroller may notify a motherboard chipset (e.g., via an interrupt) prompting the motherboard chipset to initiate a sequence to bring the GPU out of the low power state.