METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION BY COMPUTER DISC DRIVES

    公开(公告)号:PL317468A1

    公开(公告)日:1997-04-14

    申请号:PL31746895

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If the inactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, the drive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectable speeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

    METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION OF A COMPUTER MEMORY OPTICAL DISK DRIVE

    公开(公告)号:HU219935B

    公开(公告)日:2001-09-28

    申请号:HU9603143

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If the inactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, the drive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectable speeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

    3.
    发明专利
    未知

    公开(公告)号:AT171299T

    公开(公告)日:1998-10-15

    申请号:AT95921015

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If the inactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, the drive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectable speeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

    POWER SAVING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER DISK DRIVES

    公开(公告)号:CA2150743A1

    公开(公告)日:1995-12-04

    申请号:CA2150743

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If theinactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, thedrive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectablespeeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive. The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

    METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION OF A COMPUTER MEMORY DISK DRIVE

    公开(公告)号:HUT76238A

    公开(公告)日:1997-07-28

    申请号:HU9603143

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If the inactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, the drive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectable speeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

    POWER SAVING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER DISK DRIVES

    公开(公告)号:HU9603143D0

    公开(公告)日:1997-01-28

    申请号:HU9603143

    申请日:1995-06-01

    Applicant: IBM

    Abstract: A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control unit through an interface to see if any files are currently opened or data is being transferred by the disk device. If no files are opened and/or no data transfers are occurring, the drive is considered inactive. If the inactive period continues for a period of time which is greater than a predetermined reference activity level, then actions are taken to reduce the rotational velocity of the drive spindle motor to its lowest operational level, or just below the lowest operational level without stopping the disk. The spindle motor is accessed by the microprocessor through a spindle motor control unit. In the case of a constant linear velocity disk drive, the spindle motor is indirectly controlled by the microprocessor sending a message to an actuator to move a data head to a track that is near the outer periphery of the disk medium. In order to maintain a constant linear velocity, the spindle control slows the angular velocity of the motor resulting in a reduction of power consumed. When it is necessary to access data again, the drive enters an active state and the head is moved by a microprocessor "seek" command. In the case of a constant angular velocity disk drive having selectable speeds, the microprocessor controls the motor speed directly. The microprocessor, upon determining that the disk has been inactive for a predetermined threshold period, selects a constant speed that is the lowest operation speed available. This results in a power saving mode being implemented for the disk drive The drive is returned to normal operational speed by a microprocessor "seek" command. For further savings, the motor is stopped or "spun down" when left inactive for a longer period of time.

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