SurfaceFlinger Frame Rate Control for Power and Thermal Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased use of high-performance technologies in electronic devices, such as real physics engines and high-precision rendering, leads to higher power consumption and heat generation, affecting user experience.

Innovation Solution

A frame rate control method is implemented by a frame stability service module that reduces the frame rate at which frame sending instructions are sent to SurfaceFlinger, using a frame stability service module to manage frame rates based on predefined conditions, such as temperature and CPU occupancy, to minimize power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high-performance technologies such as real physics engines and high-precision rendering are used to improve application performance, then rendering quality and processing capability are improved, but power consumption and heat generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverendering precisionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic frame rate adjustment by the SurfaceFlinger based on real-time system conditions (temperature, power consumption, CPU/GPU occupancy). The frame rate is not fixed but dynamically adapted - reducing from full frame rate when conditions deteriorate and restoring when conditions improve, thereby balancing rendering precision with power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frame rate parameter sent from applications to SurfaceFlinger based on system conditions. When power consumption or temperature exceeds thresholds, the frame rate parameter is reduced; when conditions are favorable, the full frame rate parameter is maintained. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between high rendering precision and low power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the frame rate is increased to improve smoothness of image frame display, then display smoothness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where SurfaceFlinger continuously monitors system conditions (power consumption, temperature, processor occupancy) and adjusts the frame rate parameter accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that frame rate is optimized based on real-time feedback, maintaining smooth display when possible while reducing power consumption when system resources are constrained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The frame rate is made dynamic rather than static. The system can switch between different frame rate levels (full frame rate or reduced frame rate) based on real-time system state, allowing smooth display performance when resources are available while conserving power when resources are constrained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the frame rate is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but smoothness of image frame display deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidframe rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism monitors system conditions and automatically restores the full frame rate when power consumption decreases and system conditions improve. This ensures that the reduction in frame rate is temporary and conditional, maintaining smooth display performance whenever system resources permit while achieving power savings only when necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Use of energy by moving object

If a frame stability service module is introduced to control frame rates dynamically, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces SurfaceFlinger as an intermediary layer between the application and the display system. This mediator intercepts the frame rate parameter from the application, adjusts it based on system conditions, and forwards the adjusted parameter to the display subsystem. This intermediary approach allows sophisticated frame rate control without requiring changes to the application itself, balancing power reduction with acceptable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250390980A1Frame rate control method and related apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD

AI summary

This application provides a frame rate control method and a related apparatus. When a frame control condition is not satisfied, a SurfaceFlinger may be controlled by a frame stability service module to receive, at a first frame rate, a frame sending instruction sent by an application. When the frame control condition is satisfied, the SurfaceFlinger may be controlled by the frame stability service module to receive, at the second frame rate less than the first frame rate, the frame sending instruction sent by the application. In this way, when the frame control condition is satisfied, a frame rate at which the frame sending instruction generated by the application is sent to the SurfaceFlinger is reduced, thereby reducing, within a specific time, the number of times the application triggers rendering of an image frame and sending of the image frame. Therefore, power consumption of an electronic device is reduced.