Background plateau manipulation for display device power conservation

• US 9,715,846 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOYD, JONATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/551,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 345690
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/04 Partial updating of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/062 Adjustment of illumination source parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0646 Modulation of illumination source brightness and image signal correlated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0686 with two or more screen areas displaying information with different brightness or colours
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/023 using energy recovery or conservation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/16 Calculation or use of calculated indices related to luminance levels in display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods that that reduce power consumption for an electronics device that includes a display. The power conservation systems and methods alter background video information not needed for interactive use when a user returns to a display after some period of inactivity. Power conservation also preserves video information for one or more graphical user interface items. Preserving a graphics item maintains a person'"'"'s ability to detect the graphical user interface item, and return to it at a later time, even though the background video information has been altered to conserver power.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display including at least a first portion to display first visual information and a second portion to display second visual information; and

at least one processor operatively coupled with the display, the at least one processor configured to;

detect an event in relation with the second visual information; and

change the second visual information to third visual information in response to the event,

wherein a power consumption required in relation with the third visual information is less than a power consumption required in relation with the second visual information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to reduce a current being supplied to the second portion, as at least part of the changing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to gradually reduce the current while the event is continuously detected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to maintain the first visual information by sustaining a current being supplied to the first portion while changing the second visual information to the third visual information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event includes at least one of sustainment of the second visual information or lack of a user input on or adjacent to the second portion for a specific time duration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to maintain the second visual information while the event is not detected in relation with the second portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to decrease luminance level or RGB level of the second visual information, as at least part of the changing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display the first visual information via the first portion and the third visual information via the second portion, and

wherein contrast between the first visual information and the third visual information is higher than contrast between the first visual information and the second visual information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change the first visual information to fourth visual information, in response to the event.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein luminance difference between the first visual information and the fourth visual information is less than luminance difference between the second visual information and the third visual information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to store the second visual information before the changing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display includes at least one of an OLED display or a quantum dot display.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a display including at least a first pixel to display first visual information, and second pixel to display second visual information; and

at least one processor operatively coupled with the display, the at least one processor configured to;

detect an event in relation with the second visual information, and

reduce a current of the second pixel, in response to the event, so that the second visual information is changed to third visual information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a power consumption required in relation with the third visual information is less than a power consumption required in relation with the second visual information.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to decrease the current when a specific time has elapsed after the event is detected.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to maintain another current drawn into the first pixel while reducing the current.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first pixel or the second pixel is at least partially composed of a diode.

18. A method comprising:

displaying first visual information via a first portion in a display and second visual information via a second portion in the display;

detecting an event in relation with the second visual information; and

changing the second visual information to third visual information, in response to the event, so that a power consumption required in relation with the third visual information becomes less than a power consumption required in relation with the second visual information.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein the changing comprises reducing a current being supplied to the second portion.

20. A method of claim 18, wherein the changing comprises maintaining a current being supplied to the first portion.