Timing Controller Memory for Power Saving Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) devices consume high power, making them unsuitable for portable electronic products, as they require continuous host power to generate image signals for display.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a memory within the timing controller to store image data, allowing the display to generate and output image signals even when the host is powered down, enabling operation in power-saving mode and reducing power consumption by decreasing frame rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the host is powered down to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the panel cannot generate or display image frames

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidimage frame display capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The timing controller stores image data in its internal memory before the host is powered down. This preliminary storage of image data enables the timing controller to generate image signals independently after the host is powered off, maintaining display functionality while reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the host continuously generates image signals to maintain display functionality, then image frame display is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage frame display capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the image data storage function from the host system and places it in the timing controller's internal memory. This extraction allows the host to be powered down while the timing controller independently generates image signals from stored data, reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining display capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The timing controller dynamically adjusts the frame rate based on system requirements. By controlling the timing of image signal generation from stored data, the system can operate at lower frame rates to reduce power consumption while maintaining adequate display quality, or increase frame rate when higher quality is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8284179B2Timing controller for reducing power consumption and display device having the same

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 HIMAX TECH LTD

AI summary

The invention provides a display device with reduced power consumption, comprising a host applied to generate a first image signal, a timing controller connected to the host, applied to generate a second image signal and comprised a memory for storing image data, and a panel connected to the timing controller and applied to receive the second image signal for displaying image frames. When the display device is in a power-saving mode, the host is powered down, and the timing controller generates the second image signal according to the image data stored in the memory and outputs the second image signal to the panel.