Device power management based on detected power source

• US 10,324,512 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nicholson, John Weldon, Seethaler, Kenneth Scott, Locker, Howard, Springfield, Randall Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tanh Q
• Application Number:
  US14/067,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

An aspect provides an information handling device, including: a connection to an external power supply; a processor; and a memory; the memory having instructions executable by the processor to: detect that the connection to the external power supply is providing an input of power; ascertain via the connection to the external power supply that the input of power is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An information handling device, comprising:

a connection to an external power supply;

a processor; and

a memory;

the memory having instructions executable by the processor to;

detect that the connection to the external power supply is providing an input of AC power;

identify a power source of the input of AC power by distinguishing between a commercial supply AC power source and a non-commercial supply AC power source based on a characteristic of the input of AC power, wherein to identify comprises determining the shape of the input of AC power waveform and applying a low pass filter to the input of AC power and determining an amount of energy lost via the low pass filter; and

thereafter automatically adjust, based upon the power source identified, a power consumption setting of the information handling device.

2. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein the processor receives a signal from a circuit in an AC/DC power converter that provides information about the input of AC power.

3. The information handling device of claim 2, wherein the processor determines if the input of AC power is power supplied by a public utility based on AC waveform.

4. The information handling device of claim 3, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

5. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises high frequency energy.

6. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein to automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device comprises reducing power consumption of at least one hardware component of the information handling device based upon identifying the power source as a noncommercial AC power source.

7. A method, comprising:

detecting, in an AC/DC converter, a voltage of an external AC power supply;

determining a power source of the external AC power supply by distinguishing between a commercial supply AC power source and a non-commercial supply AC power source based on the voltage of the external AC power supply, wherein the determining comprises determining the shape of the voltage of the external AC power supply waveform and applying a low pass filter to the external AC power supply and determining an amount of energy lost via the low pass filter; and

thereafter providing, based upon the power source determined, a signal to an information handling device to automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining a power source of the external AC power supply is performed by a circuit in the AC/DC power converter, the circuit categorizing the voltage of the power source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the categorizing comprises determining if the voltage originates from a public utility based on AC waveform.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining if the voltage originates from a public utility comprises determining that the voltage has a waveform and the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining if the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal comprises categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform comprises determining if the energy of the frequency of the waveform exceeds a threshold amount.

14. A method, comprising:

detecting, at an information handling device, a voltage of an external AC power supply;

identifying a power source of the external AC power supply by distinguishing between a commercial supply AC power source and a non-commercial supply AC power source based on a characteristic of the external AC power supply, wherein the identifying comprises determining the shape of the voltage of the external AC power supply waveform and applying a low pass filter to the external AC power supply and determining an amount of energy lost via the low pass filter; and

thereafter automatically adjusting, based upon the power source identified, a power consumption setting of the information handling device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the distinguishing comprises receiving a signal from a circuit in an AC/DC power converter that categorizes the output waveform of the power source.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein categorizing the output waveform comprises determining if the output waveform originates from a public utility based on AC waveform.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining if the voltage originates from a public utility comprises determining that the voltage has a waveform and the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining if the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal comprises categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform.