Display units with automated power governing
View Patent ↗Display units for executing operational updates in a prioritized fashion are disclosed. A control subsystem is in electronic communication with an electronic display, sensor(s), and a thermal management subsystem. Requests to update established operational parameters for the electronic display and the thermal management subsystem are received at the control subsystem. The established operational parameters include operational parameters specific to sensor readings. The control subsystem determines which of the requests would provide a largest change to the established operational parameters if implemented, and prioritize that, largest, one of the requests for execution.
1. A display unit for executing operational updates in a prioritized fashion, said display unit comprising:
an electronic display;
a thermal management subsystem;
one or more sensors; and
a control subsystem in electronic communication with the electronic display, the one or more sensors, and the thermal management subsystem, where the control subsystem comprises one or more electronic storage devices with software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
receive requests to update established operational parameters for the electronic display and the thermal management subsystem, where the established operational parameters comprise operational parameters for the electronic display and the thermal management subsystem specific to sensor readings from the one or more sensors;
determine which of the requests would, if implemented, provide a largest change to a respective one or ones of the established operational parameters affected by a respective one of the requests (“largest request”); and
prioritize the largest request for execution.
2. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the operational parameters comprise illumination levels for the electronic display and temperature levels for the thermal management subsystem.
3. The display unit of claim 2 wherein:
the one or more sensors comprise at least one temperature sensor and at least one ambient light sensor;
the illumination levels are specific to ambient light level readings from one or more of the at least one ambient light sensor; and
the temperature levels are specific to temperature level readings from one or more of the at least one temperature sensor.
4. The display unit of claim 3 wherein:
the illumination levels are specific to temperature level readings from one or more of the at least one temperature sensor.
5. The display unit of claim 3 wherein:
the thermal management subsystem comprises one or more fans; and
the operational parameters comprise fan speeds levels.
6. The display unit of claim 2 wherein:
the one or more sensors comprise multiple temperature sensors spaced apart within the display unit; and
the temperature levels are different for at least some of the multiple temperature sensors.
7. The display unit of claim 3 wherein:
at least some of the requests are directed to a subset of the operational parameters and/or the sensor readings.
8. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the control system is configured to identify the largest request as a respective one of the requests, which if implemented, would result in a largest absolute change in value to a respective one of the operational parameters.
9. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the control system is configured to identify the largest request as a respective one of the requests, which if implemented, would result in a largest absolute change in value to a respective one of the sensor readings.
10. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the control subsystem is configured to determine an expected energy consumption differential for each of the requests; and
the control system is configured to identify the largest request as a respective one of the requests, which if implemented, would result in a largest expected energy consumption differential as the largest request.
11. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the controller is configured to arrange the requests into a hierarchy based on size; and
the controller is configured to disposition the results based on their position within the hierarchy.
12. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the control subsystem comprises at least one of: an alternating current (AC) governor, a direct current (DC) governor, and a thermal governor; and
the control system is configured to assign each of the requests to a respective one of the governors for execution.
13. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the controller is configured to discard or ignore all of the requests aside from the largest request.
14. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the established operational parameters include operational parameters where failure of one or more specific components is detected.
15. The display unit of claim 14 wherein:
the established operational parameters include a reduced illumination level of the electronic display where failure of the thermal management subsystem is detected.
16. The display unit of claim 14 wherein:
the controller is configured to determine a failure event where a lack of operational signal is received from the thermal management subsystem for at least a predetermined period of time.
17. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more electronic displays each comprise a directly backlit liquid crystal display (LCD).
18. The display unit of claim 1 wherein:
the controller is configured to monitor readings from the temperature sensors and the one or more ambient light sensors and adjust operations of the thermal management system and the electronic displays in accordance with the readings.
19. A display unit for executing operational updates in a prioritized fashion, said display unit comprising:
an electronic display;
a thermal management subsystem comprising airflow pathways and fans located along said airflow pathways such that a given one of the fans is located along each of the airflow pathways, respectively;
temperature sensors located along said airflow pathways such that a given one of the temperature sensors is located along each of the airflow pathways, respectively;
one or more ambient light sensors, at least one of which is directed towards an ambient environment to monitor ambient sunlight levels; and
a control subsystem in electronic communication with the electronic display, the thermal management subsystem, the temperature sensors, and the one or more ambient light sensors, where the control subsystem comprises one or more electronic storage devices with software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
establish operating parameters for the thermal management system comprising temperature specific fan speed levels for the fans, and ambient light level specific illumination levels for the electronic display;
monitor readings from the temperature sensors and the one or more ambient light sensors and adjust operations of the thermal management system and the electronic display in accordance with the readings;
receive requests to update the established operational parameters for the electronic display and the thermal management subsystem;
identify which of the requests would result in a largest change to a respective one or ones of the established operational parameters affected by a respective one of the requests as largest request; and
prioritize the largest request for execution.
20. A display unit for executing operational updates in a prioritized fashion, said display unit comprising:
electronic displays;
a thermal management subsystem comprising airflow pathways and fans located along said airflow pathways such that a given one of the fans is located along each of the airflow pathways, respectively;
temperature sensors located along said airflow pathways such that a given one of the temperature sensors is located along each of the airflow pathways, respectively;
ambient light sensors, each of which is associated with a given one of the electronic displays, respectively; and
a control subsystem in electronic communication with the electronic display, the thermal management subsystem, the temperature sensors, and the one or more ambient light sensors, where the control subsystem comprises one or more electronic storage devices with software instructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:
establish operating parameters for the thermal management system comprising temperature specific fan speeds for the fans, and ambient light level specific and temperature specific illumination levels for the electronic displays;
monitor temperature readings from the temperature sensors and ambient light level readings from the ambient light sensors and adjust operations of the thermal management system and the electronic displays in accordance with the readings;
receive requests to update the established operational parameters for the electronic display and the thermal management subsystem;
on a request-by-request basis, determine an absolute change in value for the established operating parameters affected by a respective one of the requests, if implemented;
arrange the requests into a hierarchy based on the absolute change in value; and
execute the requests in accordance with the hierarchy.