Partial Low-Power Display Mode Using Active Addressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in reducing power consumption, especially in partial display modes, as they require multiple voltage levels and booster circuits, which do not effectively minimize energy usage.

Innovation Solution

The display device employs active addressing with only two voltage levels, allowing all lines to be addressed simultaneously in partial mode, eliminating the need for a voltage booster circuit and reducing power consumption by short-circuiting rows and columns to form groups, thereby reducing the frequency of operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If line-by-line multiplexing is used in partial display mode, then display information can be shown, but electrical consumption is not sufficiently reduced due to requirement of multiple voltage levels and voltage booster circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical consumptionVSAvoidvoltage booster circuit

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display matrix is segmented into active and inactive rows/columns. In partial display mode, only the necessary rows and columns are activated while others are short-circuited, allowing selective addressing that reduces power consumption without requiring voltage booster circuits for inactive segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of addressing all rows and columns simultaneously or using full multiplexing, the invention applies partial action by activating only the minimum necessary rows and columns for the current display content, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining required display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Use of energy by moving object

If all rows and columns are addressed simultaneously with only two voltage levels, then electrical consumption is reduced and voltage booster circuit is eliminated, but display quality must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical consumptionVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses periodic alternation of voltage polarity in active addressing cycles. By alternating the polarity of voltage applied to rows and columns in successive cycles, the system maintains proper display contrast and prevents image burn-in while consuming less power and eliminating the need for voltage booster circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes voltage parameters by switching between two voltage levels with alternating polarity based on the display mode (full or partial). This parameter change strategy enables low-power operation while maintaining display quality through adaptive voltage control rather than fixed multi-level voltage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If rows and columns are short-circuited to form groups in partial mode, then operation frequency is reduced and power consumption decreases, but addressing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation frequencyVSAvoidaddressing control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Adjacent rows or columns that are not currently needed for display are merged by short-circuiting them together. This merging reduces the number of independent addressing lines, lowers operation frequency requirements, and decreases power consumption while the control circuit manages the grouping logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly decreases electrical consumption, making the device suitable for portable devices powered by small batteries and maintaining sufficient contrast and display quality.

Implementation Method 1

a substance whose optical properties change in the presence of a electrical

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid crystal optical property change: Liquid Crystals

Data Source

PatentEP2104092B1Display device capable of operating in partial low-power display mode

Publication Date: 2016.04.13 THE SWATCH GRP RES & DEVELONMENT LTD

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AI summary

The display device includes a display cell (1), which may comprise liquid crystals and an electrode array arranged in rows (L0 to L8) and columns (C0 to C68) within a closed cavity. The rows and columns define pixels of the display cell. The display device includes a row and column control circuit for displaying information on the display cell. In full display mode, all rows and columns are addressed at multiple voltage levels by successive row-by-row multiplexing. In a low-power partial display mode, two adjacent row groups (L0, L8) are grouped together and each controlled by a respective row control signal from the control circuit. The N rows (L1 to L7) and row groups (L0, L8) are simultaneously and actively addressed at two voltage levels.N row control signals comprise a succession of N-bit binary row words, which change every T of time, such that 2N combinations of binary row words are present in each successive cycle of duration 2N·T. These N row control signals are compared to binary data words in the columns to determine the column control signals.