Hybrid HDD SSD Storage Control for Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming apparatuses face challenges in reducing power consumption, especially under revised energy conservation standards that consider both operating and standby states, as traditional HDDs consume high power and SSDs have limitations on data rewriting and high costs.

Innovation Solution

An image forming apparatus that uses a combination of HDDs and SSDs, employing a control unit to manage power supply based on predetermined conditions such as job type, data size, free SSD space, and overall power consumption, switching between operation modes to optimize power usage by utilizing the SSD for low-power jobs and HDDs for higher power requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If multiple HDDs are activated in parallel for high-speed data writing and reading, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between HDD and SSD based on job requirements, data size, and power consumption thresholds. The control unit adjusts storage device activation states according to actual needs, transitioning between high-speed HDD parallel operation and low-power SSD operation modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by switching between different storage devices based on predetermined conditions including job type, data size, and power consumption levels. This allows optimization of both speed and power consumption by selecting appropriate storage media for different operational scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If SSD is used instead of multiple HDDs to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot handle large amounts of data rewriting beyond its upper limit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata rewriting capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that manages data flow between SSD and HDD based on their respective strengths. It determines when to use SSD for low-power operations and when to switch to HDD for high-capacity rewriting tasks, effectively coordinating both storage devices to overcome their individual limitations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between SSD and HDD based on the number of rewriting operations and predetermined thresholds. When SSD rewriting limits are approached, the system transitions to HDD for continued data operations, ensuring both power efficiency and unlimited rewriting capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If SSD is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the cost per unit capacity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different storage solutions to different data requirements locally. SSD is used for specific low-power job types and smaller data sets, while HDD is used for cost-effective high-capacity storage. This localized application optimizes both power consumption and cost by matching storage technology to specific operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of energy

If HDDs are activated in order to reduce peak power consumption, then peak power consumption is suppressed, but the time necessary to read data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak power consumptionVSAvoiddata reading time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts storage device activation based on job requirements and power consumption thresholds. When fast data access is needed and power consumption allows, HDDs are activated in parallel. When power consumption is a constraint, the system uses SSD or activates fewer HDDs, balancing speed and energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8964210B2Image forming apparatus which uses both of HDDs and an SDD, and which saves the power consumption

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, including: a first storing device; a second storing device in which consumed power is low as compared with the first storing device; and a control unit configured to start up the image forming apparatus by a program stored in the second storing device, and to execute the job by using one of the storing devices as a storing area for the image data, wherein the control unit controls the image forming apparatus in a first operation mode in which the image forming apparatus is started up without supplying electric power to the first storing device, and in which when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the job is executed by using the second storing device and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the job is executed by supplying the electric power to the first storing device and using the first storing device.