Non-Lossless Pixel Compression for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, face significant power dissipation issues due to frequent data transfers between the graphics processor and system memory, which consume power and require the central processing unit to wake up and enter sleep cycles repeatedly.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that detects user inactivity to reduce the number of data transfers by compressing pixel data, allowing it to be stored in the graphics processing unit's memory, thereby reducing the need for frequent data retrieval from system memory and lowering power dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transferred frequently between system memory and graphics processor, then display quality and responsiveness are maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-compresses pixel data and stores it in the graphics processor's memory before it is needed for display. This preliminary compression action allows the graphics processor to access compressed data locally without frequent transfers to system memory, reducing power consumption while maintaining display functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential pixel data needed for display into the graphics processor's local memory, separating it from the full uncompressed data in system memory. This extraction allows the system to operate with minimal data transfers by working with the extracted subset of data locally.
2Use of energy by moving object
If compression is applied to pixel data, then data transfer frequency is reduced and power consumption decreases, but color fidelity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial compression to pixel data, compressing only enough to reduce data size and transfer frequency, while preserving the essential color information needed for acceptable display quality. This partial action approach balances compression benefits with information retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression algorithm applies different compression levels to different aspects of pixel data, preserving color fidelity where it matters most for display quality while allowing more aggressive compression in less critical areas, thereby reducing overall data size while maintaining acceptable visual quality.
3Productivity
If on-chip memory size is increased to store compressed pixel data, then data transfer frequency decreases, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of data representation by applying compression algorithms to pixel data, transforming it from uncompressed to compressed format. This parameter change allows the same amount of visual information to be stored in less space, enabling the graphics processor's memory to hold sufficient compressed data without increasing physical memory size.
Data Source
AI summary
Circuits, methods, and systems that reduce or eliminate the number of data transfers between a system memory and a graphics processor under certain conditions. After inactivity by a user of an electronic device is detected, the color fidelity of pixels being displayed is reduced. Color fidelity can be reduced by compressing pixel values, and the compression may be non-lossless, for example, pixel data bits may be truncated. The degree of compression can be progressively increased for longer durations of inactivity, and this progression may be limited by a threshold. Inactivity may be detected by a lack of input from devices such as a keyboard, pen, mouse, or other input device. Once activity is resumed, uncompressed pixel data, or pixel data that is compressed in a lossless manner, is displayed.