Method and apparatus for controlling display refresh
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- accessing a policy;
detecting display content activity;
if a display is regularly refreshed, dynamically selecting a refresh rate in response to the detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy, wherein a change to a higher refresh rate is indicated if the detected display content activity exceeds a first threshold and a change to a lower refresh rate is indicated if the detected display content activity drops below a second threshold, andif the display is one of a bi-stable and a self-refreshing display, determining whether to refresh the display based on detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy;
determining a padding time;
generating a reprogramming interrupt within the padding time prior to a next vertical blank;
in response to the reprogramming interrupt, reprogramming mode timing registers to the selected refresh rate;
determining a number of transitions between each refresh state, a refresh state including a specific refresh rate and mode,computing a weight associated with each refresh state based on a proportional time spent in the refresh state, andif a rate of transitions between refresh states exceeds a third threshold value, delaying a transition from a refresh state associated with a highest weight until the state of transitions drops below a fourth threshold.
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Abstract
An approach for dynamic refresh rate control. For one aspect, a policy, such as a power, performance, quality or other policy, for example, is accessed. A refresh rate may then be dynamically selected in response to detected display content activity and policy preferences for displays that are regularly refreshed. Alternatively, if the display is one of a bi-stable, a self-refreshing display or another type of display that is refreshed irregularly, whether or not to refresh the display may be determined based on detected content activity.
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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accessing a policy; detecting display content activity; if a display is regularly refreshed, dynamically selecting a refresh rate in response to the detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy, wherein a change to a higher refresh rate is indicated if the detected display content activity exceeds a first threshold and a change to a lower refresh rate is indicated if the detected display content activity drops below a second threshold, and if the display is one of a bi-stable and a self-refreshing display, determining whether to refresh the display based on detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy; determining a padding time; generating a reprogramming interrupt within the padding time prior to a next vertical blank; in response to the reprogramming interrupt, reprogramming mode timing registers to the selected refresh rate; determining a number of transitions between each refresh state, a refresh state including a specific refresh rate and mode, computing a weight associated with each refresh state based on a proportional time spent in the refresh state, and if a rate of transitions between refresh states exceeds a third threshold value, delaying a transition from a refresh state associated with a highest weight until the state of transitions drops below a fourth threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory controller, the apparatus comprising:
- a display content activity detection module to detect display content activity, and a dynamic refresh rate control module to access a policy and to determine whether to dynamically adjust a refresh rate of a display based on detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy, wherein if the detected display content activity exceeds a first threshold, the dynamic refresh rate control module is to indicate a change to a higher refresh rate, and if the detected display content activity drops below a second threshold, the dynamic refresh rate control module is to indicate a change to a lower refresh rate, and wherein if a change in refresh rate is indicated, the dynamic refresh rate control module is further to determine a padding time;
generate a reprogramming interrupt within the padding time prior to a next vertical blank; and
in response to the reprogramming interrupt, reprogram mode timing registers to the selected refresh rate;
the dynamic refresh rate control module is further to determine a number of transitions between each refresh rate, compute a weight associated with each refresh rate based on a proportional time spent at the refresh rate, and if a rate of transitions between refresh rates exceeds a third threshold value, delay a transition from a refresh rate associated with a highest weight until the rate of transitions drops below a fourth threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a display content activity detection module to detect display content activity, and a dynamic refresh rate control module to access a policy and to determine whether to dynamically adjust a refresh rate of a display based on detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy, wherein if the detected display content activity exceeds a first threshold, the dynamic refresh rate control module is to indicate a change to a higher refresh rate, and if the detected display content activity drops below a second threshold, the dynamic refresh rate control module is to indicate a change to a lower refresh rate, and wherein if a change in refresh rate is indicated, the dynamic refresh rate control module is further to determine a padding time;
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15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when accessed by a processor, causes the processor to
access a policy; -
detect a display content activity; if a display is regularly refreshed, dynamically select a refresh rate in response to detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy, and if the display is one of a bi-stable and a self-refreshing display, determine whether to refresh the display based on detected display content activity and a preference indicated by the policy; determine a padding time; generate a reprogramming interrupt within the padding time prior to a next vertical blank; and in response to the reprogramming interrupt, reprogram mode timing registers to the selected refresh rate, determine a number of transitions between each refresh state, a refresh state including a specific refresh rate and mode, compute a weight associated with each refresh state based on a proportional time spent in the refresh state, and if a rate of transitions between refresh states exceeds a third threshold value, delay a transition from a refresh state associated with a highest weight until the state of transitions drops below a fourth threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification