MAC Chip Power Management via Transceiver Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network switches consume significant power and generate heat, especially in high-capacity settings, and existing methods to reduce power consumption, such as powering off equipment during nights and weekends, inconvenience occasional users by disrupting network access.
Innovation Solution
A system that powers down the entire media access control (MAC) chip during LAN port inactivity and powers it back on upon detecting a port signal, using a transceiver and programmable logic array to control the MAC chip and LED status indication, thereby reducing power consumption by over 50% while allowing quick network access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the entire network switch is powered down during inactivity periods, then power consumption is reduced, but network access is disrupted for occasional users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network switch into multiple independent functional modules: MAC chips, transceivers, and LED indicators. Each module can be independently powered down or kept active. Specifically, during inactivity periods, the MAC chip is powered down to save energy while the transceiver remains powered on to detect incoming signals, and the LED can still provide status indication. This segmentation allows selective power management that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining essential network access functionality.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the MAC chip is powered down during inactivity, then power consumption is reduced by over 50%, but there is a delay in network access restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by keeping the transceiver powered on even when the MAC chip is powered down. The transceiver continuously monitors for incoming signals and can immediately detect when a user attempts to access the network. Upon detecting a signal, the system quickly powers up the MAC chip to restore full network functionality. This preliminary monitoring approach minimizes the effective wait time because the system is already aware of incoming traffic before the MAC chip needs to be activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic power management where the power state of the MAC chip changes based on real-time network activity conditions. The system transitions between powered-off and powered-on states for the MAC chip depending on whether the network is active or inactive. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize power consumption during idle periods while ensuring rapid restoration of full functionality when network activity is detected, thereby minimizing the time penalty associated with power state transitions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the entire switch is powered down, then power consumption is maximally reduced, but the restart time is 3-5 minutes which is too long for user convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network switch into independently controllable power domains. Instead of powering down the entire switch, only specific components (MAC chip) are powered down while others (transceiver, LED) remain active. This allows the system to achieve significant power savings (over 50% reduction) without requiring a full system restart. When network activity is detected, only the MAC chip needs to be powered up, which takes minimal time compared to restarting the entire switch infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for reducing power consumption in an electronic device comprising at least one electronic chip comprises a plurality of local access network (LAN) ports, a transceiver coupled between the LAN ports and the electronic chip, a PLA device, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to power off the electronic chip in response to a period of inactivity on the LAN ports and power on the electronic chip in response to a signal from the PLA device.