Power Saving Device Standby Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many consumer electronics, such as digital television set top boxes, continue to consume power even when in standby mode due to lack of a true power cutoff feature, leading to unnecessary energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A power saving device that connects between the electronic equipment and the mains power supply, featuring a communications channel for receiving control instructions, a switch to disconnect and reconnect power, and an internal power source, allowing for complete power down and controlled wake-up based on user or external stimuli.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If equipment is designed with continuous operation capability, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases during standby mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent parts: the power saving device that can be fully powered down, and the wake-up mechanism that uses minimal power to monitor for activation signals. This segmentation allows the main equipment to consume zero power in standby while maintaining the ability to resume operation quickly when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A power saving device acts as an intermediary between the mains power supply and the electronic equipment. This intermediary controls the power flow, completely cutting off power to the equipment during standby while maintaining the communication channel for wake-up signals, thus resolving the contradiction between full power cutoff and quick reactivation.
2Loss of energy
If true power cutoff is implemented, then energy savings are improved, but reactivation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication channel and control circuitry are kept in a low-power ready state even when the main equipment is fully powered down. This preliminary preparation allows the system to detect wake-up signals immediately and reactivate without the full boot-up time, thus achieving both energy savings and quick reactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power saving device automatically manages the power cutoff and reactivation process based on received control instructions. When a wake-up signal is detected through the maintained communication channel, the device automatically restores power without user intervention, minimizing reactivation time while maximizing energy savings during standby.
Data Source
AI summary
A power saving device is described that is disposed in use between a further device and a mains power supply for supplying power to the further device. The power saving device includes: a communications channel input connected in operation to a communications channel output of the further device. The communications channel input is operable to receive control instructions from the further device. The power saving device also includes: a switch for disconnecting the further device from the mains power supply in response to the control instructions received from the further device; and an internal power source operable to provide power to the power saving device.