Source Driver Power Control During Display Vertical Blanking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The extended vertical blanking interval caused by reduced refresh rates in display devices leads to potential energy wastage, as the device remains active but not productive.
Innovation Solution
A method where specific parts of the source driver in a display device switch to a power-saving mode during the vertical blanking interval, triggered by power-saving start and end indications generated by the timing controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the refresh rate is reduced to conserve energy, then energy consumption decreases, but the vertical blanking interval lengthens causing potential energy wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The source driver circuitry is divided into multiple independent parts that can be selectively powered down. During the vertical blanking interval, only non-essential circuitry is powered down while essential circuitry remains active, allowing the system to recover quickly when needed without powering down the entire driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The power state of the source driver circuitry is made dynamic rather than static. The circuitry transitions between active and powered-down states based on real-time needs, enabling quick wake-up from the powered-down state when the next frame needs to be processed.
2Loss of energy
If parts of the source driver are powered down during vertical blanking interval, then energy consumption decreases, but the device may take time to wake up and resume operation
Solution Approach 1:
The source driver is segmented into essential and non-essential circuitry. By keeping essential circuitry powered on during the vertical blanking interval, the system maintains the capability to quickly process and transmit the next frame without significant delay, while non-essential circuitry is powered down to save energy.
3Reliability
If the source driver remains fully active during vertical blanking interval, then response time is maintained, but energy is wasted during non-productive period
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of powering down the entire source driver, only a partial portion (non-essential circuitry) is powered down while essential circuitry remains active. This partial action approach achieves energy savings during the vertical blanking interval while maintaining sufficient responsiveness for the next frame.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing power saving control on a display device includes: generating, by a timing controller of the display device, a power saving start indication and a power saving end indication in response to changing of a refresh rate of the display device; receiving, by a source driver of the display device, the power saving start indication and the power saving end indication; in response to the power saving start indication, allowing a part of circuitry of the source driver to be powered down during a vertical blanking interval; and in response to the power saving end indication, allowing the powered down part of circuitry of the source driver to be woken up during the vertical blanking interval.