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GoogleGranted patentChips & hardwareInterest 6/10

Google patents display that turns off colors to save battery

This patent describes a screen design where pixels are grouped by color, such as blue, green, and red. The display controller can switch off entire groups of pixels if their specific color is not needed for the current image, which reduces the electrical load on the screen's wiring.

Why it mattersThis could lead to slightly longer battery life in devices like phones or tablets by using less power to show simple images.

In the filing’s own words

A color display that can deactivate colors based on one or more criteria is disclosed. Reducing the number of color channels used to display an image may help conserve power, which may help extend the operating life of a battery-operated device. The display includes a backplane that is segmented by color to enable the deactivation. The segmentation may also reduce electrical loading on the electrical lines used to address the pixels in the backplane.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A display comprising: a pixel array configured to radiate light in color channels, the pixel array including: pixels organized into clusters, the clusters arranged in rows and columns and each cluster is configured to radiate the color channels via a blue pixel, a green pixel, a first red pixel, and a second red pixel; a plurality of bit-lines corresponding each column, wherein each bit-line corresponds to at least one of the color channels of a respective column; and a plurality of word-lines corresponding to each row including a first word-line coupled to the blue pixel and the green pixel in each cluster of a row and a second word-line coupled to the first red pixel and the second red pixel in each cluster of the row; and a display controller configured to: determine which color channels are active color channels; and address pixels corresponding to the active color channels to display an image received at the display.

Facts

Company
Google (GOOGLE LLC)
Official title
Micro-emitter display having a color-segmented backplane
Patent number
US12731530B2
Application number
18799289
Filed
Aug 9, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
19

Classified under

G09G 3/32 Physics & computingG09G 3/2007 Physics & computingG09G 2310/02 Physics & computingG09G 2320/0666 Physics & computingG09G 2320/08 Physics & computingG09G 2330/023 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.