Optical Drive Tray Control Using Acceleration Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable personal computers with optical disc drives face issues with accidental tray opening when the user is carrying the device and inadvertently presses the eject button, leading to power-on and tray opening during movement, which is undesirable for power saving and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an acceleration sensor into the information processing apparatus to determine if the device is being shaken, preventing the optical disc drive from powering on and the tray from opening when the device is being carried, thus ensuring the drive remains in a power-off state until intentionally powered on by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the optical disc drive is powered off to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the tray may accidentally open when the user inadvertently presses the eject button while carrying the device
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration sensor detects device motion in advance before the eject button is pressed. When motion is detected, the system proactively disables tray opening functionality, preventing the accidental opening from occurring in the first place while still allowing power-off mode to save energy
2Ease of operation
If the tray opening function is enabled in power-off state, then user convenience is improved, but power management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the tray opening functionality based on real-time acceleration sensor data. When device motion is detected, the tray opening function is temporarily disabled even in power-off state, while allowing normal operation when the device is stationary, thus adapting to user context without sacrificing power management
3Productivity
If the optical disc drive automatically powers on in response to eject button operation, then operational readiness is improved, but unintended power-on occurs during device movement
Solution Approach 1:
The acceleration sensor continuously monitors device motion and provides feedback to the control unit. When motion feedback is detected, the system suppresses the automatic power-on response to eject button operations, ensuring that operational readiness is only activated when the device is stationary and the user intends to use it
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 solution effectively prevents accidental power-on and tray opening while carrying the device, enhancing user convenience and power management by ensuring the optical disc drive only powers on when intentionally resumed by the user.
Implementation Method 1
a drive management module provided in the main body. The optical disc drive is configured to output an eject signal to an outside in response to an operation of an eject button. The drive management module is configured to determine whether the main body is shaking or not, by using the acceleration sensor
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a main body, an optical disc drive provided in the main body, and a drive management module provided in the main body. The optical disc drive is configured to output an eject signal to an outside in response to an operation of an eject button. The drive management module is configured to supply power to the optical disc drive when the eject signal is received from the optical disc drive which is in a power-off state, to determine, after supplying the power to the optical disc drive, whether the optical disc drive is in a ready state or not, and to send to a signal instructing opening of a tray of the optical disc drive when it is determined that the optical disc drive is in the ready state.