Mobile Device Power Management Using Non-Volatile Memory Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile devices face challenges in balancing performance and energy efficiency during sleep phases due to high current consumption, primarily attributed to preserving the state of volatile memory, which limits battery life and quick reaction times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) to store program data during standby, allowing the processor to execute algorithms from non-volatile memory, reducing power consumption by powering down volatile memory during sleep phases and using a timer to initiate wake-ups for paging channel decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If volatile memory (SDRAM) is powered during sleep phase to preserve processor state, then quick reaction ability is maintained, but current consumption increases by approximately 1 mA
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments memory into two types: volatile SDRAM for fast data access during active operation, and non-volatile Flash memory for storing program code during sleep phase. This segmentation allows the system to power down the SDRAM during sleep without losing program code, thereby reducing current consumption while maintaining quick reaction ability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the program code storage function from the volatile SDRAM and places it in non-volatile Flash memory. This extraction allows the SDRAM to be completely powered down during sleep phase since program code is preserved in Flash memory, eliminating the 1 mA current drain while preserving the ability to quickly load and execute code when the device wakes up.
2Use of energy by moving object
If Flash memory is used to store program code without power, then current consumption is reduced, but read/write speed is slower compared to volatile RAM
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by loading the required program code from Flash memory into SDRAM before the device enters sleep mode. During sleep, the code resides in SDRAM which is then powered down. When the device wakes up, the code is already in SDRAM ready for immediate execution, eliminating the speed penalty of reading from Flash during active operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by transferring program code between Flash memory and SDRAM based on the device's operational state. During active phase, code is loaded from Flash to SDRAM for fast access. During sleep phase, SDRAM is powered down and code remains in Flash. This periodic transfer optimizes both speed and power consumption at different operational stages.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatuses, systems and methods for reducing power consumption during standby operation of a mobile device are disclosed. A page decoding algorithm can be stored in nonvolatile memory during standby. The page decoding algorithm can be executed from the nonvolatile memory, when the mobile device is awakened from a sleep state to determine if there is any activity such as an incoming call. No power is required for the nonvolatile memory to maintain storage of the algorithm so that the power requirement during standby of the mobile device is reduced.