Power Control Mechanism for Zero Consumption in Portable Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power management systems in portable devices suffer from fixed criteria for power savings, leading to inefficient battery life extension, as they fail to adapt to varying conditions and often consume battery power during standby modes, resulting in premature power failures.

Innovation Solution

A stored-power system that utilizes a human-input power-up signal to activate power and a predetermined power-down signal to shut off power to zero consumption, employing a power control mechanism that includes a human-input sensor and a controller to manage power usage based on user input and system activity, minimizing power drain during inactivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional power management systems use fixed criteria for power savings, then power consumption is reduced during idle periods, but the systems fail to adapt to varying conditions and may consume battery power during standby modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidadaptability to varying conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power management by transitioning from fixed power-saving criteria to adaptive criteria that respond to actual system conditions. The power management module continuously monitors system state and dynamically adjusts power consumption levels, enabling the system to adapt to varying conditions while optimizing battery life. This resolves the contradiction by making power management flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the power management module receives information about system activity and power levels, then adjusts power consumption accordingly. The system monitors whether activities are user-initiated or system-generated and uses this feedback to determine appropriate power management actions, allowing adaptation to varying conditions while reducing unnecessary power consumption during standby modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If optical pulses are emitted periodically to detect mouse activity, then mouse activity detection is enabled, but battery power is depleted during sleep modes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemouse activity detectionVSAvoidbattery power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by emitting optical pulses only when necessary rather than continuously during sleep mode. The system uses intermittent polling at reduced frequency during idle periods, and only increases pulse emission frequency when actual mouse activity is detected. This approach maintains reliable activity detection capability while dramatically reducing battery power consumption during sleep modes compared to continuous periodic pulse emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by providing only the minimum necessary detection capability during sleep mode rather than full operational capability. The optical pulse emission is reduced to the lowest frequency that still allows detection of mouse activity, accepting partial detection performance in exchange for significant battery power savings during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the system turns off completely when power level drops below minimum, then power failure is prevented, but the system cannot respond to decreased power levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower failure preventionVSAvoidpower level response capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by preparing the system for power failure conditions before they occur. The power management module continuously monitors power levels and proactively initiates power-saving measures and graceful shutdown procedures when power levels approach critical thresholds, rather than waiting for complete power failure. This allows the system to respond to decreased power levels and prevent power failure through controlled shutdown sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Speed

If rapid dissipation of power occurs, then power failure happens quickly, but the power manager cannot react to the decreased power level

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower dissipation rateVSAvoidpower manager response

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing power buffering and energy reserves that cushion against rapid power dissipation. The system maintains energy reserves and uses capacitive buffering to smooth out rapid power changes, giving the power manager sufficient time to detect and respond to power level decreases before complete power failure occurs. This cushioning effect bridges the time gap between rapid power dissipation and power manager response capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9184629B2Stored-power system including power management

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 CLEVX LLC

AI summary

A stored-power system operating method includes: providing a human-input power-up signal from a stored-power source; turning on power for a power-using-system in response to the human-input power-up signal; and waiting for a predetermined power-down signal provided by the power-using system and determined by current to turn off power to the power-using-system to zero power consumption.