HDR OLED display power control

At an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display system configured to reproduce high dynamic range (HDR) video via an OLED array, a method for reducing power consumption of the OLED display system, the method comprising:

• receiving HDR pixel data from an HDR data source;
• sampling a sampled portion of the HDR pixel data;
• determining a luminance index value of the sampled portion of the HDR pixel data, wherein the luminance index value corresponds to a maximum luminance of the sampled portion of the HDR pixel data;
• and
• using the luminance index value to control at least one voltage generator that generates OLED voltages for OLED emission in the OLED array, the at least one voltage generator comprising a pixel digital-to-analog converter (DAC) reference voltage generator that generates a pixel DAC reference voltage and an electroluminescent (EL) cathode bias voltage generator that generates an EL cathode bias voltage.

A computing device comprising an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display system having a default maximum luminance capability, the OLED display system configured to reproduce high dynamic range (HDR) video, the OLED display system comprising:

• an OLED array of OLED pixels;
• a power management system configured to provide power to the OLED pixels, the power management system comprising at least one voltage generator that generates OLED voltages for OLED emission in the OLED array, the at least one voltage generator comprising a pixel digital-to-analog converter (DAC) reference voltage generator that generates a pixel DAC reference voltage and an electroluminescent (EL) cathode bias voltage generator that generates an EL cathode bias voltage;
• a timing microcontroller comprising a decoder/encoder configured to receive HDR pixel data and output display pixel data;
• and
• a memory storing instructions executable by the timing microcontroller to:
• sample a sampled portion of the HDR pixel data;
• determine a luminance index value of the sampled portion of the HDR pixel data, wherein the luminance index value corresponds to a maximum luminance of the sampled portion of the HDR pixel data;
• and
• use the luminance index value to control the pixel DAC reference voltage generator and the electroluminescent (EL) cathode bias voltage generator in a manner that dynamically adjusts the default maximum luminance capability to a runtime maximum luminance capability that is lower than the default maximum luminance capability.