Sensor Coprocessor Dormancy for Mobile Terminal Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals experience high power consumption when processing sensor data in the always-on-display state due to the operation of sensor coprocessors, which accelerates battery drain.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a processing method that controls the sensor coprocessor to enter a dormant state in the screen-off state and uses a touch screen coprocessor with lower power consumption to process sensor data, allowing the touch screen coprocessor to generate trigger instructions for the application processor to perform functions, thereby reducing power consumption and extending standby time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a sensor coprocessor is used to process sensor data in the always-on-display state, then the mobile terminal can acquire and process sensor data continuously, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor data processing capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically switches between different coprocessors based on the display state. When the display is on, the sensor coprocessor processes sensor data; when the display is off, the touch screen coprocessor takes over to process both touch and sensor data, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining continuous functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The touch screen coprocessor is designed to perform multiple functions: processing touch screen data and sensor data. This multi-functionality allows it to replace the sensor coprocessor during screen-off states, eliminating the need for the sensor coprocessor to operate continuously and thereby reducing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the sensor coprocessor operates continuously to maintain always-on-display functionality, then user requirements are met, but the battery drains faster

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealways-on-display functionalityVSAvoidstandby time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system periodically switches between different processing modes based on display state. During screen-on periods, the sensor coprocessor is active; during screen-off periods, the touch screen coprocessor handles processing. This periodic switching maintains functionality while reducing average power consumption and extending standby time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sensor data processing function from the dedicated sensor coprocessor and relocates it to the touch screen coprocessor during screen-off states. This extraction allows the sensor coprocessor to enter a low-power state while the touch screen coprocessor, which has lower power consumption characteristics, handles the processing workload

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3719612B1Processing method for reducing power consumption and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3719612B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3719612B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3719612B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A processing method for reducing power consumption and a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes: controlling a sensor coprocessor to enter a dormant state, in a case that the mobile terminal is in a screen-off state; receiving a trigger instruction transmitted by a touch screen coprocessor, wherein the trigger instruction is transmitted when data collected by a sensor connected to the touch screen coprocessor meets a predetermined trigger condition; and controlling the mobile terminal to perform a function corresponding to the trigger instruction.