06-30-2023, 08:39 AM
I have just published a new Sculpt OS image for the PinePhone that includes a screensaver mode to increase battery time. You can download the image with version 2023-06-30 at https://depot.genode.org/nfeske/image, or use Sculpt's built-in system update feature, selecting me (nfeske) as image provider, and download and install the latest entry of my index.
The screensaver kicks in after ten seconds of user inactivity in the administrative user interface. It also can be manually activated by pressing the power button. While the screen is blanked, a press of the power button enables the display again.
Under the hood, Sculpt completely removes the drivers for the display and the touchscreen while the screen is blanked, which considerably reduces the power draw. The system also switches the CPU to economic mode while the screen is blanked. Here are some illustrative data points:
Max brightness in performance mode: 2.8 W
Max brightness in economic mode: 2.6 W
Low brightness in economic mode: 1.7 W
Screensaver with modem enabled: 1.0 W
As a caveat, I noticed that the screen-flickering issue, we sporadically observed in the past, occurs quite often when returning from the screensaver (aka after restarting the drivers). The flickering disappears after a while. However, maybe this way of reproducing the issue gives us the chance to eventually solve it.
Have fun with trying out the new image!
The screensaver kicks in after ten seconds of user inactivity in the administrative user interface. It also can be manually activated by pressing the power button. While the screen is blanked, a press of the power button enables the display again.
Under the hood, Sculpt completely removes the drivers for the display and the touchscreen while the screen is blanked, which considerably reduces the power draw. The system also switches the CPU to economic mode while the screen is blanked. Here are some illustrative data points:
Max brightness in performance mode: 2.8 W
Max brightness in economic mode: 2.6 W
Low brightness in economic mode: 1.7 W
Screensaver with modem enabled: 1.0 W
As a caveat, I noticed that the screen-flickering issue, we sporadically observed in the past, occurs quite often when returning from the screensaver (aka after restarting the drivers). The flickering disappears after a while. However, maybe this way of reproducing the issue gives us the chance to eventually solve it.
Have fun with trying out the new image!
