Intelligent power management of disc drives

An apparatus for controlling power consumption of a disc drive based upon statistical characteristics of recent user disc access, comprising:

• (a) servo control circuitry;
• (b) an embedded microprocessor in the disc drive, the embedded microprocessor receiving commands from a host microprocessor, the embedded microprocessor operably coupled to the servo control circuitry, and the embedded processor being programmed to
• (i) instantiate an initial set of thresholds, each threshold governing a transition into a corresponding power consumption mode, each subsequent power consumption mode requiring less power than the preceding power consumption mode;
• (ii) measure, at intervals, a time span since the disc drive was last issued a command;
• (iii) prior to receipt of a new command by the disc drive, transition the disc drive into a subsequent lower power consumption mode as the measured time span meets the threshold corresponding to the power consumption mode to be entered;
• and
• (iv) following receipt of a new command by the disc drive, adjust a threshold based upon the measured time span.