Mobile Graphics Frame Rate Throttling for Power Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

High frame rates in graphics processing consume excessive power in mobile devices, despite contributing little to user experience, due to the physical limitations of the human eye and display refresh rates.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that govern the frame rate of graphics processing by throttling the processing rate of graphics content to limit the frame rate to a threshold, typically between 24-35 frames per second, using a control module in conjunction with a graphics processing unit and video processing module, to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If graphics processing runs at maximum frame rate, then processing speed and visual smoothness are improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on display refresh rate detection. The graphics processing unit varies its output frame rate to match the detected refresh rate of the display device, rather than running at a fixed maximum rate. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing high frame rates when the display can utilize them, while reducing frame rates when the display refresh rate is lower, thus saving power without sacrificing visual quality beyond what the display can show.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameter of frame rate from a fixed maximum value to a variable value that adapts to display capabilities. By detecting the display refresh rate and adjusting the graphics output frame rate accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between processing speed and power consumption. This parameter change allows the graphics processor to operate at lower frame rates when unnecessary, directly reducing power consumption while maintaining optimal visual output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If frame rate exceeds display refresh rate, then graphics processing capability is fully utilized, but power is wasted on rendering frames that cannot be displayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraphics processing throughputVSAvoidwasted power

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the display refresh rate and using this information to control the graphics processing frame rate. The refresh rate detection mechanism provides feedback about the display's actual capability, which then feeds back to adjust the graphics output rate. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the graphics processor produces frames at a rate that the display can actually utilize, preventing waste of energy on frames that would not be visible and eliminating the contradiction between processing throughput and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8872812B2Power saving in mobile devices by optimizing frame rate output

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising providing 2-D or 3-D graphics content to a graphics processing module; processing the graphics content to generate a stream of images (e.g., three dimensional images and/or two dimensional images) for display, the stream having a frame rate; and governing a rate of processing the graphics content to limit the frame rate of the generated stream of images to be less than or equal to a frame rate threshold. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.