SATA Power Control Unit for Apparatus Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power saving techniques for image forming apparatuses, such as printing devices, are limited in their ability to finely adjust power saving states, as they primarily focus on the SATA component's power state without considering the overall apparatus's power state, leading to suboptimal energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power control technique that links power saving state transitions of SATA components with the overall power state of the apparatus, using extended commands and a power control unit to manage power saving states (PS0 to PS2) across the SATA host and bridge control units, allowing for more precise power management based on user usage and device settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If power saving state transition is controlled only based on SATA component status, then SATA component power consumption is reduced, but overall apparatus power saving is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines SATA component power state control with overall apparatus power state control. The power control unit integrates information from both the SATA component status and the apparatus's overall power state to determine appropriate power saving states, merging these two previously separate control functions into a unified system that optimizes power consumption at the apparatus level.
2Loss of energy
If fine-adjusted power saving control is implemented by linking SATA component power state with overall apparatus power state, then overall power saving is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power control unit as an intermediary component that receives information from both the SATA component and the apparatus's power management system. This intermediary unit processes the combined information and generates appropriate power saving state transitions, simplifying the control architecture while enabling fine-adjusted power saving control through coordinated management of both SATA and apparatus power states.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control apparatus configured to control power of a device that communicates with a host system via a communication interface complying with a predetermined standard includes a reception unit configured to receive a signal indicating that the host system transitions to a predetermined power state and a determination unit configured to determine, according to reception of the signal indicating that the host system transitions to the predetermined power state, a power state of each of the device and a physical layer of the communication interface used by the device from a plurality of power states, based on a power state of the host system, a power state of the device, and a power state of the physical layer of the communication interface included in the device and complying with the predetermined standard.