Selectable low power mode for storage devices

1 . An external data storage device without a battery, the external data storage device comprising:

storage media configured to store data;

a data port configured to receive power from and transmit data to a host device, wherein the external data storage device is separate from the host device; and

control circuitry configured to:

negotiate delivery of a first amount of power from the host device in response to connecting the external data storage device to the host device via the data port;

receive the first amount of power from the host device via the data port;

receive a selection, via an input device separate from the host device, of a reduced power mode from a user, wherein the input device is a part of the external data storage device or is a mobile device configured to communicate wirelessly with the external data storage device, wherein the selection is received directly from the input device without passing through the host device, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to reduce the first amount of power from the host device via the data port; and

reduce power consumption from the host device via the data port to a second amount of power lower than the first amount of power in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

2 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to detect that the host device is providing less than the first amount of power to the external data storage device.

3 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a mobile device configured to communicate wirelessly with the external data storage device.

4 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , further comprising a fingerprint scanner as the input device, with the reduced power mode associated with a first fingerprint.

5 . The external data storage device of claim 4 , wherein:

a second fingerprint is associated with a standard power mode; and

the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to the fingerprint scanner receiving the second fingerprint, cause the external data storage device to set power consumption back to the first amount of power.

6 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein:

the external data storage device further comprises memory cache configured to temporarily store data; and

the control circuitry is further configured to reduce usage of the memory cache in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

7 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein:

the external data storage device further comprises flash memory channels configured to transmit data to the storage media; and

the control circuitry is further configured to reduce usage of the flash memory channels in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

8 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce die interleaving usage in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

9 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce TRIM command usage in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

10 . The external data storage device of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator configured to signal to the user that power being received from the host device is below the first amount of power.

11 . A method for selectively reducing power usage of an external data storage device, the method comprising:

negotiating delivery of a first amount of power from a host device in response to connecting an external data storage device without a battery to the host device via a data port of the external data storage device, wherein the external data storage device includes storage media configured to store data, the data port configured to receive power from and transmit data to the host device, and control circuitry, wherein the external data storage device is separate from the host device;

receiving the first amount of power from the host device via the data port;

receiving a selection, via an input device separate from the host device, of a reduced power mode from a user, wherein the input device is a part of the external data storage device or is a mobile device configured to communicate wirelessly with the external data storage device, wherein the selection is received directly from the input device without passing through the host device, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to reduce the first amount of power from the host device via the data port; and

reducing power consumption from the host device via the data port to a second amount of power lower than the first amount of power in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the input device is a mobile device that is different from both the host device and the external data storage device.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the input device is a fingerprint sensor that is part of the external data storage device.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the selection of the reduced power mode comprises detecting a first fingerprint associated with the reduced power mode on the fingerprint sensor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting a second fingerprint that is associated with a standard power mode on the fingerprint sensor; and

resetting the power consumption of the external data storage device back to the first amount of power.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein reducing power consumption from the host device via the data port to the second amount of power comprises reducing usage of memory cache configured to temporarily store data.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein reducing power consumption from the host device via the data port to the second amount of power comprises reducing die interleaving usage.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein reducing power consumption from the host device via the data port to the second amount of power comprises reducing TRIM command usage.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising signaling to the user, using an indicator, that power being received from the host device is below the first amount of power.

20 . An external data storage device without a battery, the external data storage device comprising:

means for receiving input from a user;

means for storing data;

means for receiving power from and transmitting data to a host device; and

control circuitry configured to:

negotiate delivery of a first amount of power from the host device in response to connecting the external data storage device to the host device via the means for receiving power from and transmitting data to the host device;

receive the first amount of power from the host device via the means for receiving power from and transmitting data to the host device;

receive a selection of a reduced power mode from the user via the means for receiving input from the user, wherein the means for receiving input from the user is separate from the host device, wherein the means for receiving input from the user is a part of the external data storage device, and wherein the selection is received directly from the means for receiving input from the user without passing through the host device, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to reduce the first amount of power from the host device via the means for receiving power from and transmitting data to the host device; and

reduce power consumption from the host device via the means for receiving power from and transmitting data to the host device to a second amount of power lower than the first amount of power in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.