Low-Power Standby Display Refresh via Dedicated Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing devices face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly for mobile devices, as graphics processing and display are major power consumers, and display self-refresh capable panels require expensive larger local memory for higher resolutions.
Innovation Solution
A computing device implementation that enters a low-power standby display refresh mode by reserving a dedicated memory buffer for static images, powering down unnecessary components while keeping the display buffer active, achieving similar power savings to DSR-capable panels without the need for expensive internal storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If display self-refresh capable panels are used to reduce power consumption, then power savings are achieved, but local memory cost increases with display resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a software-based copy of the display buffer in system memory that mirrors the DSR functionality. Instead of requiring physical DSR-capable hardware with onboard memory, the system copies the buffer content to system memory and uses memory controllers to manage refresh operations, achieving similar power savings without the expensive onboard memory requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, permanent DSR-capable display hardware with a more economical approach using standard display panels combined with software buffer management. The system uses temporary memory allocations in system memory rather than requiring dedicated persistent memory in the display panel itself
2Reliability
If display panels are constantly refreshed with frame buffer data from main memory, then display functionality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic refresh operations where the display buffer is updated only when necessary rather than continuously. The memory controller manages selective refresh cycles, updating the display buffer from system memory at appropriate intervals while maintaining display functionality, thereby reducing overall power consumption compared to constant refreshing
3Measurement precision
If DSR-capable panels with larger local memory are used for higher resolution displays, then display resolution improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the display buffer to system memory using memory controllers, allowing high-resolution displays to function without requiring expensive DSR-capable panels with onboard memory. The system memory serves as the buffer storage, eliminating the need for costly local memory in the display panel while maintaining high resolution capability
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for low-power display refresh standby include a computing device with a display such as an LCD panel. The computing device may include a system-on-a-chip (SoC) with a processor, I/O subsystem, display controller, and memory. When the computing device determines that a display image is static, the computing device enters a low-power display refresh standby mode, powering down unneeded components of the SoC such as processor cores, peripheral devices, and memory other than a dedicated display buffer. The display controller may access the dedicated display buffer via the I/O subsystem and output the image to the display. The computing device may power down the I/O subsystem and the dedicated display buffer when a display controller FIFO is full of image data, and periodically power on the I/O subsystem and display buffer to fill the display controller FIFO. Other embodiments are described and claimed.