Patent Publication Number: US-11393417-B2

Title: Backlight source selection based on power source

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Display monitors are used for a variety of applications, such as monitors for computing systems or televisions. Such display monitors include a display panel which may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a plasma discharge panel (PDP). The displays may be of any of a variety of sizes. The display panel is provided with backlighting, the level of which may determine brightness of the display. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of various examples, reference is now made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example apparatus for backlight source selection; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another example apparatus for backlight source selection; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an example method for backlight source selection; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating another example method for a backlight source selection; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of an example system with a computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a processor for backlight source selection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As noted above, various display devices include a display panel and backlighting. Certain display devices, such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display devices, lack any backlighting with the OLED providing its own color. OLED devices have the drawbacks of increased cost, reduced durability, and reduced brightness. In some examples, an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided behind the display panel. The LED light may be passed through filters to provide the desired color on the display panel. Backlighting may be provided via an edge backlight source provided on one edge of a display panel. The edge backlight may then be directed from the edge of the display panel through, for example light pipes to provide backlighting for substantially the entire display panel. The edge backlighting provides efficient backlighting with low power consumption. Recent advances have led to the development of micro-LED devices which may include a backlight panel which includes a large number of LEDs (e.g., millions) on a panel. The micro-LED panels can provide a high level of brightness. At the higher levels of brightness, the micro-LED panels can be power-intensive. 
     Various examples described herein relate to backlighting for display devices. In various examples, a display device is provided with multiple sources of backlighting. In one example, the display device is provided with an edge backlighting source and a micro-LED backlighting source. The micro-LED backlighting source is advantageous for its ability to provide a high level of brightness, while the edge backlighting source provides the advantage of consuming less power. In this regard, various example display devices are provided with a controller to determine the power source for the display device. If the display device is operating in a plugged-in power mode, the controller can activate the micro-LED backlighting source. On the other hand, when the display device is in a battery-powered mode, the controller can activate the edge backlighting source to conserve power. Thus, when sufficient power is available, the display device can take advantage of the high level of brightness provided by the micro-LED backlighting, while providing a longer operating life in the battery-powered mode. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an example apparatus  100  for backlight source selection is illustrated. The example apparatus  100  includes a display panel  110 . In one example, the display panel  110  includes an LCD display panel. As noted above, the display panel  110  may be of any practical size. The example apparatus  100  further includes at least two backlight sources. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  includes a backlight source A  120  and a backlight source B  130 . In one example, as described below with reference to  FIG. 2 , one backlight source (e.g., backlight source A  120 ) is an edge backlight source, and another backlight source (e.g., backlight source B  130 ) is a micro-LED backlight source. 
     The example apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  further includes a controller  140 . The controller  140  may be implemented as hardware, software or firmware and may be provided to control various operations of the example apparatus  100 . For example, the controller  140  may be coupled to a video source (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to receive instructions and data for displaying video images on the display panel  110 . In the example apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 , the controller  140  is provided to selectively activate one of the backlight sources  120 ,  130  based on a detected power source. In this regard, the controller  140  may selectively activate one backlight source (e.g., backlight source A  120 ) when a first power source is detected. The controller  140  may selectively activate a different backlight source (e.g., backlight source B  130 ) when a second power source is detected. In one example, the controller  140  may selectively activate an edge backlight source when a battery power source is detected, and may selectively activate a micro-LED backlight source when a plug-in power source is detected. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , another example apparatus for backlight source selection is illustrated. The example apparatus  200  may be a display device such as a monitor coupled to a computing device. The example apparatus  200  includes a display panel  210 , such as an LCD panel, for example, which may be of any practical size. 
     Similar to the example apparatus  100  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , the example apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2  is provided with two backlight sources  220 ,  230 . The first backlight source of the example apparatus  200  is an edge backlight  220 , and the second backlight source is a micro-LED array  230 . As described above, the edge backlight  220  may be provided to supply light from one edge of the display panel  210 . The backlight may then be directed throughout the display panel  210  by, for example, light pipes. 
     The micro-LED array  230  may include a number of micro-LEDs that correspond to the resolution of the display panel  210 . In this regard, in various examples, each micro-LED in the micro-LED array  230  may correspond to a particular pixel on the display panel  210 . As noted above, micro-LED backlighting provides improved brightness. 
     The example apparatus  200  of  FIG. 2  includes a controller  240  which may control various aspects of operation of the example apparatus  200 . For example, the controller  240  may control content displayed on the display panel  210 , as well as communication with a video source, for example. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the controller  240  includes a power source determination portion  242  and a backlight selection portion  244 . The power source determination portion  242  is provided to detect which power source is currently providing power to the example apparatus  200 . In this regard, the example apparatus  200  may operate in a battery-powered mode in which the power source is a battery power source  252  or operate in a plug-in mode in which the power source is a plug-in power source  254 . In various examples, the battery power source  252  may be a battery that is part of, or internal to, the example apparatus  200 . In other examples, the battery power source  252  may be an external battery that may be removable from the example apparatus  200 . The plug-in power source  254  may be an alternating current power source, such as a wall outlet coupled to an electric grid, for example. 
     Based on detection of a current power source by the power source determination portion  242 , the backlight selection portion  244  may activate one of the backlight sources  220 ,  230 . For example, upon detection that the current power source is the battery power source  252 , the backlight selection portion  244  may activate the edge backlight  220 . In this regard, the micro-LED array  230  may be de-activated as a backlight source to conserve power. On the other hand, upon detection that the current power source is the plug-in power source  254 , the backlight selection portion  244  may activate the micro-LED array  230  as the backlight source. In this regard, the edge backlight  220  may be de-activated as a backlight source. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart illustrating an example method  300  for backlight source selection is illustrated. The example method  300  may be implemented in, for example the controller  140 ,  240  of the example apparatuses  100 ,  200  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The example method  300  includes determining a source of power for a display device (block  310 ). As described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , a display device, such as the example apparatus  200 , includes a display panel  210  and at least two backlight sources  220 ,  230  to backlight the display panel  210 . The display device may be capable of operating in a first mode in which it is powered by a first power source and in a second mode in which it is powered by a second power source. For example, the display device may operate in a battery-powered mode in which the power source is a battery or in a plug-in mode in which the power source is a plug-in power source. Thus, at block  310 , the example method  300  may include determination of whether the display device is powered by a battery or by a plug-in power source. 
     The example method  300  further includes activating a first backlight source of the at least two backlight sources when the source of power is determined to be a first power source (block  320 ). For example, as described above, when the power source is determined to be a battery power source, the first backlight source (e.g., the edge backlight source) may be activated. In various example, other backlight sources (e.g., the micro-LED array) may be de-activated. 
     The example method  300  further includes activating a second backlight source of the at least two backlight sources when the source of power is determined to be a second power source (block  330 ). For example, as described above, when the power source is determined to be a plug-in power source, the second backlight source (e.g., the micro-LED array) may be activated. In various example, other backlight sources (e.g., the edge backlight) may be de-activated. 
     In one example, a user may override the selection of the backlight source by the controller. For example, if the display device is in a battery-powered mode, the user may manually select the micro-LED array as the backlight source, electing greater brightness even if the battery life is decreased. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart illustrating another example method  400  for a backlight source selection is illustrated. The example method  400  may be implemented in, for example the controller  140 ,  240  of the example apparatuses  100 ,  200  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The example method  400  includes detecting a source of power for a display device (block  410 ). As described above, a display device, such as the example apparatus  200 , includes a display panel  210  and at least two backlight sources  220 ,  230 . The display device may be capable of operating in either a plug-in power mode or a battery power mode. Thus, at block  410 , the example method  400  may detect which power source is currently supplying power to the display device. At block  420 , a determination is made as to whether or not the power source is a battery power source. 
     If the power source is determined to be battery power, the example method  400  proceeds to block  430 , and the edge backlight is activated. As noted above, the edge backlight consumes less power and allows the display device to operate for a longer period under battery power. 
     At block  440 , the example method  400  determines whether a change in the power source has occurred. If no change in the power source has occurred, the display device continues operating with the edge backlight and continues to monitor for changes in the power source. If a change in power source is detected, the example method  400  returns to block  420 . 
     If, at block  420 , the power source is determined to not be battery power, the example method  400  proceeds to block  450 , and the micro-LED array is activated as a backlight source. As noted above, the micro-LED array provides improved brightness and may provide additional benefits, such as responsiveness. 
     At block  460 , the example method  400  determines whether a change in the power source has occurred. If no change in the power source has occurred, the display device continues operating with the micro-LED array as the backlight source and continues to monitor for changes in the power source. If a change in power source is detected, the example method  400  returns to block  420 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a block diagram of an example system  500  is illustrated with a computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a processor for backlight source selection. The system  500  includes a processor  510  and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium  520 . The computer-readable storage medium  520  includes example instructions  521 - 522  executable by the processor  510  to perform various functionalities described herein. In various examples, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium  520  may be any of a variety of storage devices including, but not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) a dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), or the like. In various examples, the processor  510  may be a general purpose processor, special purpose logic, or the like. In various examples, the processor  510  may include or be included in the controller  140 ,  240  of the example apparatuses  100 ,  200  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The example instructions include determine source of power instructions  721 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , a display device, such as the example apparatus  200 , includes a display panel  210  and at least two backlight sources  220 ,  230  to backlight the display panel  210 . The display device may be capable of operating in a first mode in which it is powered by a first power source (e.g., a battery power source) and in a second mode in which it is powered by a second power source (e.g., a plug-in power source). In this regard, the instructions  721  may determine whether the current source of power is a battery power source or a plug-in power source. 
     The example instructions further include activate one backlight source based on the source of power instructions  722 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , a first backlight source (e.g., edge backlight) may be activated when the source of power is determined to be a first power source (e.g., battery power source). On the other hand, a second backlight source (e.g., micro-LED array) may be activated when the source of power is determined to be a second power source (e.g., plug-in power source). In each case, other backlight sources may be deactivated. 
     Thus, in various examples, when sufficient power is available (e.g., via a plug-in power source), the display device can take advantage of the high level of brightness provided by the micro-LED backlighting. When the power source is limited, as may be the case with a battery power source, a longer operating life can be achieved by activating edge backlighting. 
     Software implementations of various examples can be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish various database searching steps or processes, correlation steps or processes, comparison steps or processes and decision steps or processes. 
     The foregoing description of various examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the examples disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various examples. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various examples of the present disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present disclosure in various examples and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the examples described herein may be combined in all possible combinations of methods, apparatus, modules, systems, and computer program products. 
     It is also noted herein that while the above describes examples, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope as defined in the appended claims.