Low-Power Display Wrapping Device Edges for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often underutilize surface area for displays due to power management constraints, limiting the types of information that can be shown on high-power displays which turn off after inactivity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating low-power displays, such as electronic ink (e-ink) displays, that can operate independently or in conjunction with high-power displays, allowing for continuous display of information without significant power consumption, even when the device is in sleep mode, and can be molded to non-flat surfaces to utilize unused areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If high-power displays are used to maximize display area, then display real estate is increased, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent display areas with different power characteristics. The patent implements both high-power displays (for vibrant, dynamic content) and low-power displays (for static information), allowing the device to utilize the full surface area while managing power consumption through selective activation of different display segments based on content requirements.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If low-power displays are used to reduce power consumption, then battery efficiency is improved, but display area utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends display functionality to three-dimensional surfaces by wrapping displays around device edges and corners. This dimensional expansion allows low-power displays to utilize previously wasted surface areas (edges, corners, back surfaces) that were not suitable for traditional flat displays, thereby increasing total display area without proportionally increasing power consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple displays are included to maximize surface area usage, then display real estate is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements displays with multi-functional capabilities that serve multiple purposes simultaneously. The same display areas can function as both information displays and aesthetic customization elements (skins, tattoos). The display system also serves dual purposes of providing information and enabling device personalization, reducing the need for separate components and thereby managing complexity despite increased display area.
4Area of stationary object
If displays are wrapped around contours to utilize unused surface area, then display area is increased, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved and contoured display surfaces that wrap around device edges and corners. This curvature approach transforms the challenge of irregular surface geometry into a design advantage, allowing displays to conform to three-dimensional device contours. The curved display technology enables utilization of previously unusable surface areas while maintaining manufacturability through specialized flexible display components.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may have a plurality of displays, such as a high-power display and a low-power display. The low-power display may be used to display various types of information. Some examples of information that may be displayed on the low-power display include personal customizations of the device (e.g., skins, tattoos, text or graphics, etc.), a battery meter, a signal strength meter, the date and time, or any other type of information. In one example, the device has a separate processor that drives the low-power display, so that the low-power display can be used while the device is in sleep mode or off. In another example, an application that runs on the device's regular processor uses the high- and low-power displays cooperatively to display output from an application. The low-power display can be wrapped around the edges and/or corners of the device, to make effective use of the device's surface area.