Storage Device Serial Port Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices consume excessive power due to constant communication port activation, especially when not synchronized with external devices, leading to inefficient power management.

Innovation Solution

A storage device with a controller that sets communication ports to a power-saving mode before synchronization and transitions them to a power-normal state only upon receiving specific signals from external devices, allowing for independent control of each port and reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication ports are kept active for periodic initialization, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication port operates in two distinct states: a power-saving state with minimal power consumption and a communication state with full power consumption. The controller dynamically transitions between these states based on whether an external device is connected and communication is needed, making the system adaptable rather than static

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors the communication port for connection status and incoming signals from external devices. Based on this feedback, it automatically transitions the port between power-saving and communication states, ensuring reliability when needed while conserving power when idle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If communication ports remain in power-normal state, then communication responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary checks to detect connection status and incoming signals before transitioning the communication port to the power-normal state. This allows the system to maintain power-saving mode until communication is actually required, then quickly activate when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of maintaining continuous power-normal state, the system uses periodic monitoring of connection status and incoming signals to determine when to activate the communication port, creating a rhythm of power-saving and active states that balances responsiveness with power conservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If all communication ports are controlled uniformly, then system simplicity is improved, but power management efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidpower management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Each communication port is independently controlled by the controller, allowing individual ports to be placed in power-saving or communication states based on their specific connection status and communication needs. This segmentation enables precise power management for each port rather than controlling all ports uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10831257B2Storage device having a serial communication port

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 KIOXIA CORP

AI summary

A storage device includes a storage unit, a communication port configured to perform serial communication with an external device, and a controller configured to access the storage unit based on a command communicated from the external device through the communication port, and set the communication port to a power-saving mode before the communication port receives any signal for synchronization.