Integrated Display Controller in Processor for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices face challenges in extending battery life, especially when not connected to an external power source, due to high power consumption from graphics processing and display refresh operations.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates a display controller into the processor unit, allowing for the deactivation of the bridge interface when the graphics processing unit is idle, reducing power consumption by eliminating unnecessary transactions and leveraging the memory interface for display refresh, even when the bridge is deactivated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the bridge interface remains active to allow display controller to read frame buffer data, then display refresh can continue, but power consumption increases due to idle interface activity
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge interface is dynamically deactivated when the GPU is idle and reactivated when rendering is needed. This dynamic state change allows the system to eliminate power consumption from the bridge interface during periods when no graphics processing is occurring, while maintaining display refresh functionality through the processor unit's direct access to frame buffer data.
Solution Approach 2:
The display controller is integrated into the processor unit as a separate functional component. This segmentation allows the display controller to independently read frame buffer data directly from memory without requiring the bridge interface to remain active, enabling the bridge to be deactivated during GPU idle periods while maintaining display refresh capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the bridge interface is deactivated to save power, then idle interface activity is reduced, but display refresh operations may be constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The processor unit is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both the display controller and direct memory access capabilities. This allows the processor unit to perform both general processing tasks and display refresh operations independently of the bridge interface, ensuring that display functionality is maintained even when the bridge is deactivated to save power.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the display controller is integrated into the processor unit, then power consumption is reduced by eliminating bridge transactions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display controller is merged with the processor unit to form an integrated component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate bridge interface transactions for display refresh operations, reducing power consumption. While the processor unit becomes more complex, the overall system complexity is reduced by eliminating the need for a dedicated graphics interface bridge.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system comprises a memory; a memory interface coupled to the memory; a processor unit coupled to the memory interface, a second interface coupled to the processor unit, and a graphics processing unit. The processor unit comprises at least one processor core and a display controller configured to couple to a display. The graphics processing unit is configured to render data into a frame buffer representing an image to be displayed on the display. The processor unit is configured to deactivate the second interface if the graphics processing unit is not rendering, and the display controller is configured to read the frame buffer data for display even if the second interface is deactivated.