Dynamic power supply

2:

• The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mass storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

3:

• The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit capable of at least partially dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device is further capable of dynamically adjusting the voltage supplied to said mass storage device.

4:

• The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is adapted to determine the operating state of said mass storage device based at least in part upon said at least one signal.

5:

• The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one signal comprises a measurement of the amount of electrical power supplied by said power supply.

6:

• The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said apparatus is adapted to reduce the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an active state to an idle state.

7:

• The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is adapted to supply electrical power having a voltage between a range of 2V to 4V, exclusive, when said mass storage device is operating in an idle state.

8:

• The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus is adapted to increase the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an idle state to an active state.

9:

• The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus is adapted to supply electrical power, when said mass storage device is operating in an active state, having a voltage in one of the voltage ranges selected from a group consisting essentially of 4V to 6V, inclusive, and 10V to 14V, inclusive.

10:

• The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said signal comprises a digital value.

11:

• The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said signal is substantially provided by said mass storage device.

12:

• The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said signal comprises an analog value.

13:

• The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said signal comprises a measurement related to the operating power of said mass storage device.

14:

• The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said measurement comprises a measurement of current.

16:

• The mass storage device of claim 15, wherein said control circuit is adapted to determine the operating state of said mass storage device based at least in part upon at least one signal.

17:

• The mass storage device of claim 16, wherein said mass storage device further comprises a second set of components which are capable of operating at a lower voltage than said first set of components.

18:

• The mass storage device of claim 17, wherein said mass storage device is adapted to reduce the amount of electrical power supplied to said first set of components at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an active state to an idle state.

19:

• The mass storage device of claim 18, wherein said mass storage device is adapted to increase the amount of electrical power supplied to said first set of components at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an idle state to an active state.

20:

• The mass storage device of claim 19, wherein said mass storage device is adapted to substantially maintain the voltage supplied to said second set of components substantially regardless of the operating state of said mass storage device.

22:

• The system of claim 21, wherein said mass storage device comprises a hard disk drive.

23:

• The system of claim 21, wherein said system further comprises a power supply coupled to said mass storage device.

24:

• The system of claim 23, wherein said control circuit is integrated with said mass storage device.

25:

• The system of claim 23, wherein said control circuit capable of at least partially dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device is further capable of dynamically adjusting the voltage supplied to said mass storage device.

26:

• The system of claim 23, wherein said control circuit is adapted to determine the operating state of said mass storage device based at least in part upon said at least one signal.

27:

• The system of claim 26, wherein said system is adapted to reduce the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an active state to an idle state.

28:

• The system of claim 27, wherein said system is adapted to increase the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device at least in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an idle state to an active state.

29:

• The system of claim 26, wherein said signal comprises a digital value.

30:

• The system of claim 29, wherein said signal comprises a value to be supplied by a software program capable of running on said computing platform during operation of said system.

31:

• The system of claim 26, wherein said signal comprises an analog value.

32:

• The system of claim 31, wherein said signal comprises a measurement related to the operating power for said mass storage device.

33:

• The system of claim 32, said measurement comprises a measurement of current.

34:

• A method for at least partially reducing the power consumption of a mass storage device comprising:
• determining the operating state of said mass storage device, and
• dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device, based at least in part upon the determined operating state of said mass storage device.

35:

• The method of claim 34, wherein determining the operating state of said mass storage device comprises receiving at least one signal indicative of the operating state of said mass storage device.

36:

• The method of claim 35, wherein receiving said at least one signal comprises a digital value indicative of the operating state of said mass storage device.

37:

• The method of claim 35, wherein receiving said at least one signal comprises an analog electrical current indicative of the operating state of said mass storage device.

38:

• The method of claim 34, wherein dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device comprises dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to different parts of said mass storage device.

39:

• The method of claim 34, wherein dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device comprises dynamically adjusting the voltage supplied to said mass storage device.

40:

• The method of claim 34, wherein dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device comprises at least partially reducing the amount of power supplied to said mass storage device, at least in part, in response to said mass storage device transitioning from an active state to an idle state.

41:

• The method of claim 40, wherein dynamically adjusting the amount of electrical power supplied to said mass storage device comprises at least partially increasing the amount of power supplied to said mass storage device, at least in part, in response said mass storage device transitioning from an idle state to an active state.