Semiconductor Layer Image Update for Display Power Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-resolution display panels in electronic devices lead to increased power consumption due to inefficient driving systems, particularly in updating frame images on the display panel.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a display controller and comparison unit that generates a change map to identify and update only the necessary unit elements in the frame buffer, reducing the need for full frame image data updates and thus lowering power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full frame image data is updated for high-resolution display panels, then display quality is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the frame buffer into multiple unit elements and further segments the image data into layer image data. Instead of updating the entire frame buffer, the system identifies and updates only the specific unit elements that have changed between frames. This segmentation approach maintains display quality for changed regions while avoiding unnecessary updates to unchanged regions, thereby reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by updating only the necessary portion of the frame buffer (unit elements that satisfy predetermined conditions) rather than performing a complete frame buffer update. The comparison unit identifies only the changed unit elements, and the display controller reads and updates only those specific units, reducing the data processing load and power consumption while maintaining adequate display quality.
2Reliability
If all unit elements are updated in the frame buffer, then image freshness is ensured, but data processing load and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through the comparison unit that compares layer image data of the current frame with previous frame data to identify changes. This feedback loop enables the system to determine which unit elements have changed and need updating, rather than blindly updating all elements. The display controller uses this feedback information to selectively update only the necessary unit elements, improving data processing efficiency while ensuring image freshness in changed regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The comparison unit performs preliminary comparison of layer image data before the actual update operation. By pre-identifying which unit elements satisfy the predetermined conditions for change, the system prepares the update list in advance. This preliminary action avoids unnecessary data processing and reduces the computational load during the actual frame buffer update operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If layer image data is processed and compared to generate change maps, then update precision is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image data into multiple layers and unit elements, allowing the comparison unit to process and compare only the relevant segments that have changed between frames. This segmentation enables precise identification of changed unit elements while reducing the overall processing volume compared to comparing entire frame buffers, thus improving update precision without proportionally increasing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial comparison by focusing only on layer image data that satisfies predetermined conditions for change. Rather than comparing all possible data elements, the comparison unit selectively processes only the necessary portions, reducing processing time and energy consumption while maintaining adequate precision for identifying changed unit elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes; a first memory that stores first and second layer image data portions used to generate first and second frame images on a display device, a second memory that stores a change map, a display controller that generates positional information associated with an image data portion in response to the change map, and an interface that receives image data and positional information and generates a command for updating the image data.