DRIVER ARCHITECTURE FOR COMPUTER DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE GRAPHICS SUBSYSTEMS, REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION MODES, SOFTWARE AND METHODS

• US 20090153540A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Mummah, Phil, Blinzer, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,487,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/06 Use of more than one graphics processor to process data before displaying to one or more screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Many computing device may now include two or more graphics subsystems. The multiple graphics subsystems may have different abilities, and may, for example, consume differing amount of electrical power, with one subsystem consuming more average power than the others. The higher power consuming graphics subsystem may be coupled to the device and used instead of, or in addition to, the lower power consuming graphics subsystem, resulting in higher performance or additional capabilities, but increased overall power consumption. By transitioning from the use of the higher power consuming graphics subsystem to the lower power consuming graphics subsystem, while placing the higher power consuming graphics subsystem in a lower power consumption mode, overall power consumption is reduced. A processor executes application software and driver software. The driver software includes first and second driver components for respectively controlling operation of the first and second graphics subsystems. A further proxy driver component routes calls (e.g. API/DDI calls) to one of said first and second driver components, in dependence on which of the first and second graphics system is in use.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

a second graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

at least one display in communication with at least one of said first graphics subsystem and said second graphics subsystem;

a processor executing application software and driver software, said driver software comprising first and second driver components for respectively controlling operation of said first and second graphics subsystem, and a proxy driver component for routing calls from said application to one of said first and second driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said processor executes instructions causing said processor to transition said electronic device from a first mode in which said second graphics subsystem renders graphics on said display, to a second mode in which said first graphics subsystems renders graphics on said display, and said second graphics subsystem is placed in a lower power consumption mode.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said first and second driver components comprise driver components executing in a user mode of said processor.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said first and second driver components comprise driver components executing in a kernel mode of said processor.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein which of said first and second graphics system is in use is dependent on a power state of said electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said proxy driver component routes calls from an operating system at said device to one of said first and second driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein said proxy driver component establishes a concordance structure identifying equivalent driver functions in said first and second driver components for performing said routing.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a first graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

a second graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

a display in communication with both said first graphics subsystem and said second graphics subsystem;

a processor executing application software and driver software, said driver software comprising

first and second user mode driver components for respectively controlling operation of said first and second graphics subsystem, and a user mode proxy driver component for routing calls from said application to one of said first and second user mode driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use;

first and second kernel mode driver components for respectively controlling operation of said first and second graphics subsystem, and a kernel mode proxy driver component for routing calls from one of said user mode driver components to one of said first and second kernel driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use.

9. A computer readable medium storing driver software for execution on a computer device comprising, said computing device comprising:

a first graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

a second graphics subsystem operable to render graphics;

a display in communication with both said first graphics subsystem and said second graphics subsystem; and

a processor;

said driver software comprising

a proxy driver component for routing calls from said application to one of first and second driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use, said first and second driver components for respectively controlling operation of said first and second graphics subsystem.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said proxy driver component establishes a concordance structure identifying equivalent driver functions in said first and second driver components for performing said routing.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein said proxy driver component routes calls from an operating system at said device to one of said first and second driver components, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics system is in use.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said first and second driver components comprise driver components executing in a user mode of said processor.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said first and second driver components comprise driver components executing in a kernel mode of said processor.

14. A method of operating an electronic device comprising first and second graphics subsystem operable to render graphics, said method comprising:

receiving driver calls from a software application or an operating system executing at said electronic device;

routing said driver calls from a software application, to one of first and second software driver components for respectively controlling operation of said first and second graphics subsystem, in dependence on which of said first and second graphics subsystem is in use.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

establishing a concordance structure identifying equivalent driver functions in said first and second driver components for performing said routing.