Electronic System Data Preservation in Low Temperatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low temperature environments, computer systems face data loss due to the suspension of power to internal devices, causing setting values stored in RAM to be lost, which prevents recovery from sleep modes like S3.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system with a temperature sensor, first and second controllers, and storage devices that detect low temperatures and trigger a hibernation mode, moving operation data from RAM to a hard disc drive to prevent data loss, ensuring data can be recovered when the system returns to normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the computer system enters S3 suspend mode to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but data stored in RAM is lost due to low temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting temperature conditions before entering suspend mode and proactively storing critical data to non-volatile storage. The temperature sensor monitors conditions and triggers data preservation operations before the system transitions to low-power state, preventing data loss from occurring in the first place
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature sensor acts as an intermediary between the physical environment and the system's power management. The sensor detects temperature conditions and communicates this information to the control logic, which then decides whether to prevent suspend mode entry or to trigger data preservation operations, mediating between environmental conditions and system state
2Reliability
If the computer system enters S4 hibernation mode to preserve data, then data integrity is maintained, but the system cannot quickly recover to normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively storing only critical data that must be preserved to non-volatile storage, rather than hibernating the entire system state. Less critical data remains in RAM, allowing the system to recover quickly while still maintaining integrity of essential information
Solution Approach 2:
The data storage strategy is segmented into different levels: critical data is stored in non-volatile storage for reliability, while non-critical data remains in RAM for fast access. This segmentation allows the system to achieve data integrity for essential operations without the full performance penalty of complete hibernation
3Speed
If the system uses RAM to store device settings for quick recovery, then recovery speed is improved, but data is lost in low temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the storage parameter for device settings based on temperature conditions. At normal temperatures, settings are stored in RAM for fast recovery. When temperature drops below the threshold, the system changes the storage location to non-volatile storage, adjusting the parameter to maintain both speed and reliability
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
Prevents data loss and ensures running applications can be restored by automatically transitioning to hibernation mode when temperatures drop below a threshold, maintaining data integrity in low temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor... senses a temperature of the electronic system through the temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system, and a method and an apparatus for saving data of the electronic system are provided. The electrical system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a temperature sensor, a first controller, a second controller, a first storage device and a second storage device. When the CPU enters a suspend mode and the first controller detects a temperature of the electronic system to be lower than a threshold value through the temperature sensor, the second controller notify the application program to trigger the CPU to enter a hibernation mode, and operation data is moved from the first storage device to the second storage device.