Electronic Apparatus With Dual Wired LAN Circuits for Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Higher communication speeds in wired LANs result in increased power consumption, and existing power-saving techniques are inadequate for reducing power consumption in high-speed wired LAN circuits.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus is equipped with both a high-speed and a power-saving wired LAN circuit, allowing the system to switch between them based on operational status, with the power-saving circuit having a lower communication speed and lower power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a high-speed wired LAN circuit is used, then communication speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wired LAN circuit is segmented into multiple circuits with different upperlimit communication speeds (first wired LAN circuit with first value, second wired LAN circuit with second value). This allows the system to select appropriate circuit segments based on communication requirements, using the high-speed circuit only when necessary and the low-speed circuit for routine operations, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining required communication speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different wired LAN circuits based on operational status. The wired LAN management unit monitors communication requirements and automatically selects the appropriate circuit (high-speed or low-speed), making the system adaptable to varying power and performance needs. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by matching circuit performance to actual requirements rather than operating at fixed high performance continuously.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power saving techniques are applied to high-speed wired LAN circuits, then power consumption is reduced, but communication performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements multi-functionality by equipping the electronic apparatus with multiple wired LAN circuits that serve different purposes. The first wired LAN circuit provides high-speed communication capability, while the second wired LAN circuit provides power-saving operation. The wired LAN management unit intelligently selects which circuit to use based on whether high performance or power savings are the priority, making each circuit specialized for its optimal function rather than attempting to make a single circuit do both.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (upperlimit communication speed) by switching between circuits with different speed ratings. When power saving is needed, the system transitions from the first wired LAN circuit (first value) to the second wired LAN circuit (second value, where second value < first value). This parameter change allows the system to operate at lower speeds when high performance is not required, thereby reducing power consumption without permanently degrading communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An upperlimit communication speed of a power-saving wired LAN circuit 13 is lower than an upperlimit communication speed of a high-speed wired LAN circuit 12, and power consumption of the power-saving wired LAN circuit 13 is smaller than power consumption of the high-speed wired LAN circuit 12. Further, when the electronic apparatus 1 moves to a suspended status, the wired LAN management unit 16b switches a wired LAN circuit used for wired LAN communication from the high-speed wired LAN circuit 12 to the power-saving wired LAN circuit 13.