Storage Device Power Control via Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing devices fail to effectively reduce power consumption of storage devices when idle, often turning them off at inappropriate times or taking too long to wake up, leading to inefficient energy use and user frustration.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses proximity sensors and image capture devices to determine user presence, transitioning storage devices to lower power states when the user is not present and back to active states when they return, allowing for intelligent power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the storage device is turned off after a predetermined period of idle time, then power consumption is reduced, but the device may turn off when the user is engaged and present an excessively long wait time when the user attempts to wake it
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user presence through proximity sensors and image capture devices before the storage device needs to wake up. When the user is detected returning to the device, the system proactively initiates the wake-up sequence, ensuring the storage device is ready before the user needs it, thus eliminating wait time while maintaining power savings during actual absence
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops that continuously monitor user presence status and adjust storage device power states accordingly. The proximity sensors and image capture devices provide real-time feedback about user location, allowing the system to dynamically transition between active and low-power states based on actual usage conditions rather than fixed timers
2Loss of energy
If the storage device is turned off to save power, then energy efficiency is improved, but the device fails to reduce power consumption when the user is not engaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensing modalities - proximity sensors that detect closeness and image capture devices that verify user presence - to create a robust determination of user engagement. This combination allows the system to reliably detect when the user is truly absent and safely transition the storage device to low-power states without false positives that would waste energy or cause unnecessary wake cycles
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces power consumption of storage devices, such as hard disk drives, by up to 500 milliwatts, extending battery life and minimizing wake latency, thus improving user experience and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a proximity sensor to generate a proximity signal based at least in part on a receipt of electromagnetic radiation reflected off or radiated from the user
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for control of storage device power states are described herein. In some embodiments, a control system for a storage device of a computing device may include receiver logic to receive a proximity signal indicative of a distance of a user from a proximity sensor, transition logic to determine that the proximity signal satisfies out-of-proximity criteria and generate an out-transition signal based at least in part on the determination that the proximity signal satisfies the out-of-proximity criteria, and state-change logic to cause a change in a power state of the storage device from a first power state to a second power state, in response to the out-transition signal, wherein the storage device consumes less power in the second power state than in the first power state. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.