Selective Backlight Disablement for LCD Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Larger LCD monitors consume more energy due to powering backlights for non-utilized areas of the screen, leading to increased power consumption and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing systems and methods to dynamically identify and turn off backlights for non-utilized areas of the display panel, allowing for selective backlight control based on user activity and image updates, using display management software and programmable integrated circuits to manage backlight zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If backlights are turned off for non-utilized areas, then power consumption is reduced, but display uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is divided into multiple independently controllable backlight zones. Each zone can be selectively enabled or disabled based on whether its corresponding display area is currently utilized. This segmentation allows the system to turn off backlights for non-utilized areas while maintaining uniformity in utilized areas, resolving the contradiction between power reduction and display consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display panel are assigned different backlight states (on/off) based on local utilization requirements. The system applies local quality control by allowing utilized areas to maintain full illumination while non-utilized areas are dimmed or turned off, thereby reducing overall power consumption without compromising the display quality in active regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If selective backlight control is implemented, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects which display areas are currently utilized and autonomously controls the backlight zones without requiring manual user intervention. The display management software monitors application window positions and automatically enables or disables corresponding backlight zones, making the system self-regulating and reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the display area utilization status and provides feedback to the backlight control mechanism. When an area is detected as non-utilized, the system responds by turning off the corresponding backlight zone, and when utilization is detected, the backlight is re-enabled. This feedback loop automates the energy-saving process without requiring complex user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11705078B1Systems and methods for selective disablement of backlights corresponding to identified non-utilized viewable areas of a display panel

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to identify viewable areas of a display panel (such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel) of a display panel assembly that are currently not utilized by a user, and then to selectively and dynamically turn off backlights or blocks of backlights (e.g., such as light emitting diode “LED” backlight elements) that illuminate viewable areas of the display panel that correspond to these non-utilized viewable areas. The systems and methods may be so implemented in one example to reduce power consumption of a display panel assembly.