Pixel-Level Brightness Control for AMOLED Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

As mobile device screens increase in size, power consumption also rises, leading to reduced battery life, and existing power-saving technologies, such as ambient light sensors and LED backlight control, only offer partial solutions, necessitating a more effective method to manage screen brightness and reduce energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that adjust the light intensity of each pixel on a touch screen, where surrounding pixels of a contact point have normal intensity and the rest have lower or no intensity, utilizing AMOLED technology to control power supply to individual pixels, thereby reducing overall screen power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the screen size of mobile device becomes larger, then the display area is improved, but the power consumption is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen areaVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the screen into multiple independently controllable regions or pixels, allowing selective activation. When a user touches a specific area, only that local region and its surrounding pixels are activated with high light intensity, while the rest of the screen remains dark or at low intensity, thereby reducing overall power consumption on large screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing high light intensity only to the specific region where user interaction occurs, rather than uniformly illuminating the entire screen. This creates a localized bright area for content display while keeping other areas dark, optimizing the balance between visibility and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If the light intensity of all pixels is maintained for visibility, then the content perceptibility is improved, but the power consumption is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary portion of the screen pixels rather than all pixels. When a touch is detected, only the touched pixel and its surrounding pixels are activated with high intensity, while other pixels remain inactive or at low intensity, achieving content visibility with reduced energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action through dynamic light intensity adjustment based on user interaction. The screen transitions between different states: fully dark when idle, locally bright during touch interaction, and can gradually dim afterward. This periodic activation pattern reduces average power consumption while maintaining content perceptibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the light intensity is reduced to save power, then the power consumption is decreased, but the content perceptibility is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcontent perceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - the touched region and its surrounding pixels maintain high light intensity to ensure content perceptibility, while other regions operate at low or zero intensity to save power. This creates a localized bright area that preserves visibility where needed while reducing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2926210B1Method and apparatus for displaying content
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP2926210B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP2926210B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3b
  • EP2926210B1 patent drawingFigure 3c~4

AI summary

It is provided a method for displaying content on a screen where light intensity of each pixel of the screen is adjustable. The method comprises steps of receive a touch of a touching object on the screen; and adjusting light intensity so as to make surrounding pixels of a contact point between the touching object and the screen have a high intensity and rest pixels have no light intensity or a lower light intensity, wherein, the lower light intensity enables content displayed on corresponding pixels perceptible to a user.