Method and Apparatus to Optimize System Battery-Life for Static and Semi-Static Image Viewing Usage Models

• US 20130054997A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Wyatt, David, Jacoby, Rambod
• Granted Patent: US 10,761,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• 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

A computer system comprising: a graphics processor, a display controller comprising a display-local frame buffer, a display device, and a memory. The memory stores instructions, that when executed by the computer system, perform a method of entering a power management state. The method comprises detecting that the computer system is idle and optional proximity detector for determining if a user is present in front of the system. With the computer system idle, and the user in proximity of the system, the display-local frame buffer is activated. Display information transmitted by the graphics processor is stored in the display-local frame buffer. Initially a power reduction state is initiated for the graphics subsystem including the graphics processor, and the display device is placed in a self-refresh state with the display self-refreshing from information stored in the local frame buffer.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a graphics processor;

a local frame buffer;

a display device; and

a memory for storing instructions, that when executed by the computer system perform a method of entering a power conservation state, the method comprising;

detecting a system idle event;

activating the local frame buffer;

storing display information in the local frame buffer from the graphics processor;

initiating a power reduction state for the graphics processor; and

self-refreshing the display device during the power reduction state with the display information stored in the local frame buffer.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system further comprises a display controller which comprises the local frame buffer.

3. The computer system of claim 1 comprising input devices, and wherein at least one input device remains active during the power conservation state.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

exiting the power conservation state when an input is received from at least one input device.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a proximity device, and wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a presence or absence of a user with the proximity device, wherein the self-refreshed display device is dimmed after a prescribed length of time if the proximity device detected the absence of the user.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power reduction state for the graphics processor comprises powering down the graphics processor.

6. The computer system of Claim I, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a graphical user interface for defining options of the power conservation state.

8. A method of entering a power conservation state, the method comprising:

detecting a system idle event of a computer system;

activating a local frame buffer;

storing display information in the local frame buffer froth a graphics processor;

initiating a power reduction state for the graphics processor; and

during the power reduction state, self-refreshing a display device with the display information stored in the local frame buffer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a display controller comprises the local frame buffer.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining active at least one input device during the power conservation state.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising exiting the power conservation state when the computer system receives an input from at least one input device.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

detecting the presence or absence of a user with a proximity device of the computer system, and dimming the self-refreshed display device after a prescribed length of time when the proximity device has detected the absence of the user.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface for defining options relating to the power conservation state.

14. A computer system comprising:

a graphics processor operable to generate display information, wherein the graphics processor is further operable to enter a power reduction state;

a display device operable to display the generated display information;

a local frame buffer that when activated is operable to store display information, wherein the local frame buffer is further operable to self-refresh the display device with the display information during a power reduction state of the graphics processor; and

a processor operable to detect a system idle event, wherein the processor is further operable to activate the local frame buffer and to initiate the power reduction state of the graphics processor.

15. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a display controller comprising the local frame buffer.

16. The computer system of claim 14 further comprising at least one input device operable to generate an input signal, and wherein at least one input device of the computer system is operable to remain active during the power reduction state of the graphics processor.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate an exit from the power reduction state of the graphics processor when the processor receives an input signal from at least one input device of the computer system.

18. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising a proximity device operable to detect the presence or absence of a user, wherein the self-refreshed display device is dimmed after a prescribed length of time when the proximity device has detected the absence of the user.

19. The computer system of claim 14, further comprising an on-screen graphical user interface operable on the display device to define at least one option of the power conservation state.

20. The computer system of claim 14, wherein a power reduction state of the graphics processor comprises powering down the graphics processor.