Display Refresh Rate Switching for Smooth Scrolling and Lower Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices consume excessive power when maintaining a high refresh rate during sliding operations on display screens, which affects display smoothness and battery life.

Innovation Solution

Adjust the refresh rate of a display screen in real-time based on the speed of a sliding operation, increasing it for smoothness and reducing it for power conservation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the display screen maintains a high refresh rate during sliding operations, then display smoothness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay smoothnessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the refresh rate adjustable rather than fixed. The display screen dynamically changes its refresh rate based on the detected sliding speed, transitioning from a static high refresh rate to a dynamic parameter that adapts to real-time user interaction intensity, thereby resolving the contradiction between smoothness and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the refresh rate parameter based on sliding speed detection. When sliding speed exceeds a threshold, the refresh rate is increased to ensure smooth display; when sliding speed is low, the refresh rate is decreased to reduce power consumption. This parameter adjustment strategy directly addresses the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the display screen reduces refresh rate to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but display smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously detecting sliding operations and using this information to adjust the refresh rate. The system monitors user interaction in real-time and provides appropriate display performance feedback, ensuring smoothness is maintained when needed while saving power when interaction is minimal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The display refresh rate transitions from a static low value to a dynamic parameter that responds to user interaction. The system dynamically adjusts between low and high refresh rates based on detected sliding speed, resolving the contradiction between power savings and display quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the electronic device keeps high refresh rate during sliding operations, then display smoothness is maintained, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay smoothnessVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the refresh rate parameter based on sliding speed thresholds. During active sliding with high speed, the refresh rate is maintained high for smoothness; during idle or low-speed periods, the refresh rate is reduced to extend battery life, thus resolving the contradiction between display performance and battery duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically detects sliding operations and adjusts refresh rate accordingly. Instead of maintaining high refresh rate continuously, the system uses periodic detection to activate high refresh rate only when sliding operations are detected, thereby extending battery life while maintaining smoothness during actual use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Speed

If the electronic device adjusts refresh rate frequently to match sliding speed, then display smoothness is optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay smoothnessVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a threshold-based detection system that simplifies the control logic. Instead of continuously adjusting refresh rate proportionally to sliding speed, the system uses a threshold to trigger discrete refresh rate changes, reducing control complexity while maintaining display smoothness optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by adjusting the refresh rate only when sliding speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, rather than continuously adjusting for every speed change. This selective adjustment optimizes display smoothness during significant interactions while avoiding unnecessary complexity from constant parameter changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4726514A1Refresh rate switching method and related apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4726514A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4726514A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4726514A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a refresh rate switching method and a related apparatus, applied to the field of terminal technologies. The method includes: displaying an application interface of a first application at a first refresh rate; detecting a sliding operation of a user on the application interface; and refreshing the application interface of the first application based on the sliding operation, where when a sliding speed of the sliding operation is a first speed, a refresh rate of a display screen is a second refresh rate; or when a sliding speed is a second speed, a refresh rate of the display screen is a third refresh rate; and the first speed is less than the second speed, and the second refresh rate is less than the third refresh rate. In this case, the refresh rate is adjusted in real time based on the sliding operation, so that a requirement for display smoothness at a high sliding speed can be met, and power consumption at a low sliding speed can further be reduced.