Information device, power-saving-mode switching method, and recording medium storing power-saving-mode switching program

• US 20010044332A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroshi, Yoshimoto, Shinichi, Hara, Yasushi, Shiba, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3221 of disk drive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable information device, a power saving mode switching method, and a recording medium in which a power saving mode switching program is stored, for efficiently suppressing power generation peaks. In an information device having a component (1) such as a processor and a component (2) such as a magnetic disk device, it is detected whether it is the peak power generation condition or the peak power completion condition on the basis of access information to the component (2), and a power mode change request is given to a power mode changing means (4); and the power mode changing means (4) changes over the component (1) such as the processor from a normal power mode to a power saving mode where the operating voltage is reduced, the clock frequency is reduced, or the like when the peak power generation condition is detected, and changes over it from the power saving mode to the normal power mode when the peak power completion condition is detected.

Claims

1. An information device having means for supplying power to a plurality of its components, the information device characterized by comprising:

access monitoring means for monitoring information on access to a predetermined single one or a number of said components, and for detecting peak-power generating condition and peak-power terminating condition for the components; and

power-mode changing means for switching mode of power, to the predetermined single one or number of said components, from a normal-power mode to a power-saving mode according to detected information from said access monitoring means on said peak-power generating condition, and for switching the power mode from said power-saving mode to said normal-power mode according to detected information from said access monitoring means on said peak-power terminating condition.

2. An information device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said predetermined single one or a number of said components is an information storage device, said access monitoring means is configured for:

detecting issuance of read/write status indicating occurrence of spin-up in the information storage device as the peak-power generating condition; and

detecting issuance of read/write end status as the peak-power terminating condition.

3. An information device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said predetermined single one or a number of said components is an information storage device, and other of said components are a processor and a liquid-crystal panel having a back light, said power-mode changing means is configured for:

switching said processor and said liquid crystal panel from the normal-power mode to the power-saving mode, according to detection, by said access monitoring means, of the peak-power generating condition in said information storage device; and

switching said processor and said liquid crystal panel from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode according to detection, by said access monitoring means, of the peak-power terminating condition.

4. An information device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said predetermined single one or a number of said components is a processor characterized in that said access monitoring means is configured for:

finding use rate for the processor;

detecting as the peak-power generating condition the use rate surpassing a set value; and

detecting as the peak-power terminating condition the use rate dropping below a set value.

5. A power-saving-mode switching method for an information device having a plurality of components, the power-saving-mode switching method characterized by including the steps of:

monitoring information on access to a predetermined single one or a number of said components;

detecting peak-power generating condition and peak-power terminating condition for the predetermined single one or number of said components according to the access information;

switching mode of power to other of said components from a normal-power mode to a power-saving mode according to detection of the peak-power generating condition; and

switching the power mode from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode according to subsequent detection of peak-power terminating condition.

6. A power-saving-mode switching method as set forth in

claim 5

, for an information device including an information storage device and a processor, the power-saving-mode switching method characterized by further including the steps of:

detecting issuance of read/write status indicating occurrence of spin-up in said information storage device as the peak-power generating condition, and switching said processor from the normal-power mode to the power-saving mode; and

detecting subsequent issuance of read/write end status as the peak-power terminating condition, and switching said processor from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode.

7. An information device as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein said predetermined single one or a number of said components is an information storage device, and other of said components are a processor and a liquid-crystal panel having a back light, characterized by further including the steps of:

switching said processor and said liquid-crystal panel from the normal-power mode to the power-saving mode, according to detection of the peak-power generating condition in said information storage device; and

switching said processor and said liquid crystal panel from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode according to subsequent detection of the peak-power terminating condition.

8. A recording medium on which is stored a power-saving-mode switching program for an information device having a plurality of components, the power-saving-mode switching program stored on the recording medium characterized by including:

a step of monitoring information on access to a predetermined single one or a number of said components;

a step of detecting peak-power generating condition and peak-power terminating condition for the predetermined single one or number of said components according to the access information;

a step of switching mode of power to other of said components from a normal-power mode to a power-saving mode according to detection of the peak-power generating condition; and

a step of switching the power mode from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode according to subsequent detection of peak-power terminating condition.

9. A recording medium on which is stored a power-saving-mode switching program as set forth in

claim 8

, for an information device including an information storage device and a processor, the power-saving-mode switching program stored on the recording medium characterized by further including:

a step of detecting issuance of read/write status indicating occurrence of spin-up in said information storage device as the peak-power generating condition, and switching said processor from the normal-power mode to the power-saving mode; and

a step of detecting subsequent issuance of read/write end status as the peak-power terminating condition, and switching said processor from the power-saving mode to the normal-power mode.