Power Management for Portable Devices via Sensor-Based Situation Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in balancing performance and energy efficiency, as existing power management methods require manual control of peripheral components and do not adapt automatically to different usage states, leading to unnecessary energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A power management method and apparatus that uses sensors to detect device states and generate signals, which are compared to thresholds to determine situation modes, allowing for automatic adjustment of power supply arrangements and performance management of peripheral components through a control module and look-up table.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If manual control of power supply for peripheral components is implemented, then power consumption can be reduced by disabling unnecessary components, but user operation complexity increases and automatic adaptation to usage states is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts power supply arrangements by detecting device states through sensors and autonomously determining situation modes, eliminating the need for manual user control while achieving energy savings. The electronic device serves itself by autonomously managing peripheral component power based on detected usage states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously detects device states through sensors, compares detecting signals with thresholds, and adjusts power supply arrangements based on the determined situation modes. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to changing usage conditions while optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensors and automatic detection mechanisms are added, then automatic adaptation to usage states is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic adaptation to usage statesVSAvoidsensor and control mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module serves multiple functions by integrating sensor signal reception, threshold comparison, situation mode determination, and power supply control in a single unified component. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the presence of multiple sensors for enhanced adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Thresholds for situation mode determination are pre-configured in the control module, allowing the system to automatically adapt to usage states without requiring complex real-time calculations. The preliminary setup of decision criteria simplifies the operational complexity of the detection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If peripheral components remain enabled in all operation modes, then device functionality is maintained across all modes, but unnecessary energy consumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidunnecessary energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply arrangement of peripheral components is dynamically adjusted based on the determined situation mode and current operation mode. The system transitions between different power states accordingly, ensuring components are enabled only when necessary for the current usage scenario, thus eliminating unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining required functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of energy

If performance management is optimized for specific usage states, then energy efficiency improves, but the system cannot adapt to changing user requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidadaptation to user requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system periodically re-evaluates device states through sensor detection and dynamically adjusts power supply arrangements based on current situation modes. This continuous periodic monitoring and adjustment enables the system to adapt to changing user requirements while maintaining optimized energy efficiency for each detected usage state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9043619B2Method and apparatus for power management according to a situation mode

Publication Date: 2015.05.26 GETAC TECH CORP

AI summary

The disclosure discloses a power management method, for setting a power supply arrangement of an electronic device intelligently, comprising providing at least two sensors, corresponding to at least one threshold respectively; detecting a state of the electronic device for generating a detecting signal respectively; comparing the at least two detecting signals with the at least one threshold corresponding to the at least two sensors respectively; generating at least two situation signals when the at least two detecting signals meet the at least one threshold corresponding to the at least two sensors respectively; looking up a look-up table according to the at least two detecting signals for generating a control command; and writing in at least one independent bit of a register according to the control command for changing or maintaining a power supply arrangement of at least one peripheral component.