Dual-Controller Power Management for Idle Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information processing apparatuses face challenges in reducing power consumption during idle periods, as even in low power modes, components like the Platform Controller Hub require continuous power, leading to increased energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a dual-controller system allowing transitions between active and idle states, with a first controller managing power modes and a second controller handling specific low power modes, including a third mode where power is minimized by stopping processor operations and using a separate timekeeping mechanism to optimize energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the PCH is kept in active state to maintain time counting functionality, then time management is ensured, but power consumption increases during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the time counting function into two separate implementations: a first time counting circuit in the PCH for general time management, and a second time counting circuit in the EC for low-power operation. This segmentation allows the system to use the EC's time counting when the PCH is in low-power mode, eliminating the need for continuous PCH operation and thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining time management functionality.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the system transitions to deeper power-saving modes, then power consumption is reduced, but resume time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The EC maintains a running time count even when the PCH is in low-power mode. This preliminary action of keeping the time count active in the EC allows the system to quickly resume operations by simply switching control back to the PCH without needing to reinitialize time counting, thereby reducing resume time while maintaining deep power-saving states.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a first controller which is in an active state regardless of whether a state of a computer system is the active state or an idle state and a second controller which is in the active state in a case where the state of the computer system is the active state, a first low power consumption mode or a second low power consumption mode and is in the idle state in a case where the state of the computer system is a third low power consumption mode are provided. The first controller freely counts a time of day and changes the state of the computer system to the first low power consumption mode in a case where the state of the computer system is the third low power consumption mode and the time of day reaches a predetermined transition time of day.