Self-Refresh Display Power Management via Activity Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal computers consume significant power during multimedia operations, such as video processing and display, necessitating effective power management to reduce energy usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a power management system that determines whether to enter a self-refresh mode by monitoring system activity, including timer changes, graphics processing, mouse activity, and vertical blanking interrupts, and instructing the display device to capture and repeatedly display images, thereby powering down unnecessary components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the display device operates in normal mode continuously, then the display can respond to all graphics updates and user interactions, but power consumption remains high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device dynamically switches between normal operating mode and self-refresh mode based on system activity detection. The power management module monitors system timers, graphics activity, and user interactions to determine when to transition modes, allowing the display to adapt its power consumption and responsiveness characteristics to current system conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

In self-refresh mode, the display device autonomously maintains its displayed image without requiring continuous input from the graphics processing system. The display controller independently manages the refresh operation using stored image data, freeing up system resources and enabling lower power consumption while maintaining display functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If the display enters self-refresh mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the ability to respond to rapid graphics changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidresponse to graphics changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power management module continuously monitors system activity including timer changes, graphics processing status, and user interactions. This feedback mechanism detects when system activity increases and automatically triggers a transition from self-refresh mode back to normal mode, ensuring the display responds appropriately to graphics changes while maximizing energy efficiency during static periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively transitions to self-refresh mode when inactivity is detected, preparing for energy savings before power consumption would naturally increase. Similarly, it proactively exits self-refresh mode when activity is detected, ensuring the display is ready to handle graphics updates without delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9141170B2Techniques to control self refresh display functionality

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Techniques are described to monitor a level of graphics processing activity and control power usage based on the level. When no graphics processing activity is detected for a period of time, then a timing controller for a display device is instructed to capture a current image and repeatedly display the captured image. The graphics processing devices can be powered down. When graphics processing activity is detected, the graphics processing devices are powered up and the components used to capture an image and display the captured image are powered down.