Information Handling System Power Management via User Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems face challenges in managing power efficiently, particularly when external power supplies are unavailable or when users are not present, leading to battery depletion and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The system determines if a user is present through various sensors and proximity detection, saves the state to non-volatile memory, and powers down when no user is detected, then powers up when an external power supply is reconnected, restoring the previous state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the information handling system remains powered on when external power is unavailable, then the system can maintain operation, but battery power is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of external power supply coupling status and user presence before making power management decisions. By detecting these conditions in advance and proactively transitioning to battery power mode or shutting down, the system prevents unnecessary battery consumption while ensuring operational continuity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors external power supply coupling status, battery charge levels, and user presence through sensors. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of power consumption, allowing the system to transition between powered and battery modes based on real-time conditions, thereby optimizing battery usage duration.
2Loss of energy
If the system shuts down automatically when no user is present, then battery power is conserved, but user work may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system saves the operational state to non-volatile memory before shutting down, performing the necessary preservation action in advance. This ensures that when the system restarts after power restoration, the previous work context can be restored, preventing loss of user work while still enabling power conservation during unattended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system temporarily discards the powered-on state during battery conservation mode but recovers it by restoring the saved state from non-volatile memory when power is restored. This approach allows the system to conserve battery power during unattended periods while maintaining the ability to resume work, balancing energy conservation with operational reliability.
3Productivity
If the system continuously monitors for user presence and power supply status, then power management is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional embedded controller that handles diverse tasks including external power supply detection, battery charge management, user presence sensing through multiple sensor types, and state saving/restoration. By consolidating these functions into a single controller, the system achieves comprehensive power management optimization without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses readily available existing components for monitoring, such as the operating system's ability to detect power supply coupling, existing sensor infrastructure for user presence detection, and the file system for state persistence. By leveraging these existing capabilities rather than introducing dedicated specialized components, the system achieves efficient power management with minimal additional complexity.
4Loss of information
If the system restores state from non-volatile memory upon power up, then user work is preserved, but power up time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial state restoration by loading only the essential components of the previous operational state from non-volatile memory, rather than restoring the complete system state. This selective approach preserves critical user work information while minimizing the time required for power-up and system recovery.
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
This approach conserves battery power by shutting down the system when not in use and ensures seamless operation when power is restored, enhancing overall power management and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
determining that the user is not proximate to the information handling system via at least one of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device
Implementation Method 2
determining that the user is not proximate to the information handling system via at least one of a sound navigation and ranging (SONAR) device
Implementation Method 3
determining that the user is not proximate to the information handling system via at least one of a passive infrared device
Implementation Method 4
determining that the user is not proximate to the information handling system via at least one of a time-of-flight distance device
Implementation Method 5
The motion sensor may include at least one of an electronic gyroscope, an electronic accelerometer, an electronic magnetometer, and a Hall effect sensor
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, processes, and/or methods may determine that an external power supply coupling is coupled to an information handling system (IHS); may determine that power is not being received via the external power supply coupling; may, after determining that determining that power is not being received via the external power supply coupling, determine that a battery power supply of the IHS is able to power the IHS; may determine that a user is not present; may save a state of the IHS to a non-volatile memory medium; and may power down the IHS. In one or more embodiments, the one or more systems, processes, and/or methods may further receive power via the external power supply coupling; may power up the IHS; and may restore the state of the IHS from the non-volatile memory medium.