Power State Management for Instant-On Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computing devices face challenges in maximizing battery life while maintaining 'instant on' functionality, as prolonged inactivity leads to battery drain and requires full or abbreviated reboot procedures, resulting in user latency and inefficient power management.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that manage power states by transitioning between 'on', 'ready', 'off', and 'dead' states, where the display is turned off in 'ready' and 'off' states, and only the system kernel remains in memory, minimizing power consumption and allowing for quick reactivation, while maintaining a binary 'on/off' user interface perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the device maintains 'instant on' functionality by keeping system modules powered during off state, then activation speed is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power states into four distinct levels (on, ready, off, dead) with progressively decreasing power consumption and activation speed. This allows the system to offer 'instant on' capability (ready state) when needed while providing lower-power alternatives (off and dead states) when battery conservation is prioritized, resolving the contradiction between activation speed and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different power states based on user interaction patterns and power availability. The power management module monitors system state and automatically transitions between ready, off, and dead states, optimizing the balance between activation speed and power consumption in real-time based on actual usage conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the device shuts down completely to conserve battery power, then power consumption is reduced, but activation time increases due to full reboot requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining the operating system kernel in memory during the off state, rather than completely shutting down the system. This preliminary preservation of the bootable kernel allows the system to skip the full reboot process and activate quickly from the off state, eliminating the time loss associated with complete shutdowns while still achieving significant power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power state parameters dynamically, transitioning through ready, off, and dead states with different power consumption and activation characteristics. By adjusting these parameters based on usage patterns, the system optimizes the trade-off between power consumption and activation time, avoiding both complete shutdowns and continuous full-power operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device provides multiple power states with different power consumption levels, then power management flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power management module as an intermediary that automatically handles transitions between the four power states. This intermediary component manages the complexity of state transitions, kernel persistence, and power consumption optimization, while presenting a simplified interface to users and applications, thereby achieving power management flexibility without exposing system complexity.
4Speed
If the device maintains kernel in memory during off state, then activation speed is improved, but memory power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively maintaining power to specific components (memory containing the kernel, system clock) during the off state while shutting down other components. This localized power maintenance provides the necessary activation speed improvement while minimizing overall memory and system power consumption, rather than maintaining full system power.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for managing power states in a personal computing device, while maintaining a perception by the user of “instant on” functionality. In various embodiments of the invention, the power states are presented to the user as a simple on/off option and the power management protocol is not visible within the user interface of the personal computing device thereby providing the user with the impression that the system is operating with a simple binary on/off protocol. In one embodiment of the invention, the personal computing device is operable to transition between a set of power states that include: 1) an “on” power state wherein the display is on and the customer can use all input devices; 2) a “ready” state wherein the display is turned off, but some modules, such as a radio module, remain on; 3) an “off” state wherein the personal computing device turns off after a slight pause, but a “booted kernel” is held in SDRAM; and 4) a “dead” state wherein none of the modules of the personal computing device are powered and the device must be cold booted to restart.