Autonomous thermal management
View Patent ↗The present invention provides both a peripheral device that regulates its own temperature by adjusting its power consumption, and a method to accomplish the same. The method generally includes monitoring the temperature of the mass storage device and reducing power consumption when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold.
1. A method for a peripheral device to regulate its temperature by regulating its power consumption, comprising:
reducing offline diagnostic activities if the temperature of the peripheral device exceeds a first temperature;
reducing operational speed in which the peripheral device fulfills requests from a host device if the temperature of the peripheral device exceeds a second temperature;
reducing power consumption of a physical layer interface that connects the peripheral device to the host device if the peripheral device exceeds a third temperature and if the peripheral device experienced a period of inactivity that exceeds a first time threshold; and
further reducing power consumption of the physical layer interface if the peripheral device exceeds a fourth temperature that is higher than the third temperature and if the peripheral device experienced a period of inactivity that exceeds a second time threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is lower than the third temperature.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time threshold is longer than the first time threshold.
5. A method for a hard drive to regulate its temperature by regulating its power consumption, comprising:
reducing offline diagnostic activities if the temperature of the hard drive exceeds a first temperature;
reducing operational speed in which the hard drive fulfills requests from a host device if the temperature of the peripheral device exceeds a second temperature;
reducing power consumption of a physical layer interface that connects the hard drive to the host device if the hard drive exceeds a third temperature and if the hard drive experienced a period of inactivity that exceeds a first time threshold; and
parking heads of the hard drive if the hard drive exceeds a fourth temperature and if the hard drive experienced a period of inactivity that exceeds a second time threshold.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second time threshold is longer than the first time threshold.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fourth temperature is higher than the third temperature.