Digital Switch Circuit Diverts Data to Reduce Microcontroller Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable data storage devices with microcontrollers consume unnecessary power and generate heat when used in consumer electronic devices, shortening battery life and potentially damaging internal components.
Innovation Solution
A portable data storage device with a digital switch circuit that toggles through discrete modes to divert data processing away from the microcontroller, reducing power consumption and heat generation by allowing direct data storage/retrieval on a non-volatile memory module and wireless data transmission/reception, and only activating the microcontroller when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data passes through the microcontroller for every access instance, then data transfer control is centralized and reliable, but unnecessary power is drained and unnecessary heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data path into two separate channels: a first data path through the microcontroller for control and management operations, and a second data path through the digital switch circuit for direct data transfer operations. This segmentation allows data transfer to occur without constantly involving the microcontroller, reducing its active time and power consumption while maintaining reliable control through the dedicated control path.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital switch circuit acts as an intermediary component that directly connects the host device to the non-volatile memory module, bypassing the microcontroller for data transfer operations. This intermediary enables efficient data movement while the microcontroller remains available for control functions, thus reducing overall system power consumption without sacrificing reliability.
2Reliability
If data passes through the microcontroller for every access instance, then centralized control is maintained, but unnecessary heat is generated that may damage internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data processing architecture into control functions handled by the microcontroller and data transfer functions handled by the digital switch circuit. This segmentation reduces the microcontroller's workload and active duration, thereby minimizing heat generation from continuous microcontroller operation while preserving centralized control through the control data path.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital switch circuit serves as a heat-reducing intermediary by handling data transfer operations that would otherwise burden the microcontroller. By offloading these operations, the microcontroller generates less heat, protecting internal components while maintaining control integrity through the separate control channel.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the digital switch circuit diverts data away from the microcontroller, then power consumption and heat generation are reduced, but data processing capability of the microcontroller is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data path functionality into control operations (requiring microcontroller processing) and data transfer operations (handled by digital switch circuit). This segmentation ensures the microcontroller processes only essential control data, maintaining necessary processing capability while minimizing overall power consumption by excluding bulk data transfer from the microcontroller path.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital switch circuit acts as an intermediary that handles routine data transfer operations, preserving the microcontroller's processing capability for higher-level control functions. This arrangement reduces power consumption by eliminating unnecessary microcontroller involvement in data transfer while maintaining productivity through efficient division of labor between components.
4Productivity
If multiple data paths are implemented, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a segmented data path architecture with a control path through the microcontroller and a data path through the digital switch circuit. This segmentation improves data transfer efficiency by enabling parallel independent operation of control and data functions, while the complexity increase is managed through clear functional separation and dedicated hardware paths for each type of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a portable data storage device with wireless functionality. The portable storage device includes a digital switch circuit for controlling a flow of data in the portable storage device; a non-volatile memory module coupled to the digital switch circuit, the non-volatile memory module being for storing data; an interface coupled to the digital switch circuit for enabling the portable data storage device to be used for data transfer with a host device; a microcontroller coupled to the digital switch circuit for controlling the digital switch circuit; and a wireless communications module coupled to the microcontroller for wireless transmission/reception of data. The microcontroller is configured to toggle amongst a plurality of discrete modes of the digital switch circuit such that in at least one of the plurality of discrete modes the digital switch circuit diverts data away from the microcontroller to reduce a processing load on the microcontroller. A corresponding method is also disclosed.