Optical Disc Drive Auxiliary Power for Low-Power Tray Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical disc drive systems in information handling systems often require significant time to open or close the tray or eject/insert discs, leading to a poor user experience and inefficient power usage, as they typically need to transition to a normal power mode for these operations.
Innovation Solution
An optical disc drive system connected to an auxiliary power source allows tray opening, closing, or disc ejection/ejection in low-power modes, with drive state information recorded, enabling these actions without entering normal power mode, thus improving user experience and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the optical disc drive operates in normal power mode, then the tray can be opened and closed and discs can be inserted and ejected, but the power consumption increases and the user experience deteriorates due to long operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power supply system into two independent parts: a main power source for the information handling system and an auxiliary power source specifically for the optical disc drive. This segmentation allows the optical disc drive to operate independently in low-power modes without requiring the main system to be fully powered on, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary power source is pre-configured and ready to power the optical disc drive when needed, even before the main system enters normal power mode. This preliminary preparation enables the optical disc drive to perform operations such as tray opening, closing, disc insertion, and ejection without waiting for the main system to transition to normal power mode, thereby improving user experience and reducing latency.
2Productivity
If the optical disc drive waits for normal power mode to operate, then the system can ensure full functionality, but the time required for disc access increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the power supply into main and auxiliary sources, the optical disc drive can operate independently of the main system's power state. This allows disc access operations to proceed immediately when the auxiliary power source is activated, eliminating the need to wait for the main system to transition to normal power mode and significantly reducing access time.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary power source is prepared in advance and can be activated immediately when disc access is needed, before the main system completes its boot-up or power-up sequence. This preliminary action enables the optical disc drive to perform tray operations and disc access without delaying the main system's startup process, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the optical disc drive uses auxiliary power source in low-power mode, then power consumption is reduced and user experience is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply function from the main system and creates a separate auxiliary power source specifically for the optical disc drive. This extraction isolates the power management complexity to a dedicated component, allowing the main system to operate in low-power modes without managing the additional complexity of dual power sources. The auxiliary power source can be a simple battery or capacitive storage device that interfaces through a dedicated circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary power management circuit is introduced between the auxiliary power source and the optical disc drive. This intermediary component handles the complexity of power conversion, regulation, and coordination, allowing the auxiliary power source to be simpler while still providing reliable power to the optical disc drive. The intermediary circuit manages the communication and control signals between the auxiliary power source and the drive's control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system includes an optical disc drive. The optical disc drive is connected to an auxiliary power source so that a drive tray of the optical disc drive can be opened or closed, or a disc inserted or ejected from the optical disc drive when the information handling system is in a low-power mode. In response to these actions in the low-power mode, information is stored to record that the drive tray has been opened or closed. Accordingly, when the information handling system returns to a normal mode, it can take appropriate action, such as dismounting a logical volume associated with a disc that was previously in the drive. Because the optical disc drive can be physically accessed in the low-power mode, the information handling system does not have to enter the normal power mode in order for discs to be retrieved or inserted.