Powered Backup State Elements for Low-Latency Computing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices dissipate energy inefficiently and experience increased power consumption and transition latency due to the need to save state data during power state changes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secondary power source to maintain backup state elements in a powered-on state during power-down transitions, utilizing an energy harvester to charge this secondary source, thereby eliminating the need to save data to a backup memory and reducing power state transition latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device saves state data to backup memory during power-down transitions, then data reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases and transition latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains backup state elements in a powered-on state before power-down transitions occur, so that state data is already preserved and does not need to be transferred to backup memory during the transition, thereby reducing both power consumption and transition latency while maintaining data reliability
2Reliability
If the device saves state data to backup memory during power-down transitions, then data reliability is maintained, but transition latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup state elements are kept powered-on in advance, so the state data is already preserved and accessible, eliminating the time-consuming data transfer process that would otherwise occur during power-down transitions, thus reducing transition latency while maintaining data reliability
3Use of energy by moving object
If the device powers down functional elements to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the ability to maintain state data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the state elements into primary state elements (which can be powered down) and backup state elements (which remain powered-on), allowing the device to reduce power consumption by powering down functional elements while maintaining state data through the separately powered backup elements
Solution Approach 2:
The backup state elements act as an intermediary that maintains state data while the primary functional elements are powered down, enabling the device to achieve energy efficiency without losing state information
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces power consumption and transition latency by allowing backup state elements to remain powered, utilizing otherwise wasted energy for charging, thus optimizing power management in computing devices.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an energy harvester to charge this secondary source
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed technique includes in response to a trigger to power a functional element of a device to a lower power state, operating a set of backup state elements for the functional element in a lower power mode; and resuming operation of the functional element and the backup state elements in a higher power state.