Computer Power Management via Storage Segmentation for Image Display

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable computer systems consume excessive power when displaying images, leading to frequent charging needs, which is inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a power-management method that divides the system into two portions: one for image display (graphics processing unit and display) and another for storage, where image data is transferred to memory, allowing the system to switch to a power-saving mode for non-image-related components while maintaining the display in a active mode, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the whole system operates in power management mode S0 (normal operation) to display E-book contents, then the display function is maintained, but the power consumption is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidconvenience of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent portions: a first portion (graphics processing unit, memory space, and display) that remains in power management mode S0 to maintain image display functionality, and a second portion (storage device) that transitions to power management mode S3 to reduce power consumption. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to operate in different power states simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between maintaining display functionality and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the storage device remains in power management mode S0 to ensure data availability, then data access speed is maintained, but the overall system power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption of storage deviceVSAvoiddata access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Image data is transferred from the storage device to the memory space in advance before the user needs to read it. This preliminary action allows the storage device to enter low-power mode S3 afterward while the displayed image remains available in memory, thus reducing power consumption without affecting the user experience of reading E-books.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the graphics processing unit transfers image data to memory space and maintains display operation, then image display functionality is preserved, but power consumption remains high when the storage device operates in mode S0

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage display capabilityVSAvoidsystem power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent portions: a first portion (graphics processing unit, memory space, and display) that remains in power management mode S0 to maintain image display functionality, and a second portion (storage device) that transitions to power management mode S3 to reduce power consumption. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to operate in different power states simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between maintaining display functionality and reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8607084B2Computer system and method for saving power consumption by placing a second computer portion into a sleep mode after completed transfering image data to a first computer portion

Publication Date: 2013.12.10 VIA TECH INC

AI summary

A computer system and a power-management method thereof are provided. The computer system has an image-reading mode, a first power-management mode and a second power-management mode, and the computer system operating in the second power-management mode consumes less power than it consumes in the first power-management mode. The computer system comprises a first portion comprising a graphics processing unit, a memory space and a display; and a second portion comprising a storage storing an image data. When the computer system operates in the image-reading mode, the image data has been transferred to the memory space from the storage, the second portion enters to the second power-management mode from the first power-management mode, and the first portion keeps in the first power-management mode, so that the graphics processing unit can display an image by the display according to the image data stored in the memory space.