The panel self refresh (PSR) feature enables system-level power savings when the displayed image remains static for multiple display frames. The eDP display (sink) stores a static image locally in a remote frame buffer (RFB) within the sink and displays this image from the RFB while the eDP Main link may be turned off (SUSPEND asserted). The SN65DSI86 may turn off other features in addition to the main link for further power savings. The system software makes the determination on what power savings must be implemented (like shutdown of DP link (SUSPEND asserted), shutdown of entire SN65DSI86 (EN deasserted), and so on). When implementing PSR, any power savings must not impact system responsiveness to user input that affects the display, such as cursor movement.

In the list below are the requirements the GPU and system designer must meet when implementing PSR:

1. Updates to the remote frame buffer located in sink must include two of the same static frame. The reason for this requirement is the SN65DSI86 will never pass the first frame received on the DSI interface to the DisplayPort interface. All subsequent frames will be passed to the DisplayPort interface.
2. If PWM signal is controlled directly by the SN65DSI86 and SUSPEND asserted, the REFCLK must remain active.