Information processing apparatus suitably controlling activation and stoppage of power consumption reducing function and power consumption controlling method of the apparatus
First Claim
1. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus being adapted to be driven by a battery and comprising:
- measuring means for measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
first determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means exceeds a first predetermined value;
second determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
control means for activating the power consumption reducing function if the first determining means determines that the discharge current measured by the measuring means exceeds the first predetermined value, and after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if the second determining means determines that the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than the second predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microcomputer has a power consumption reducing function which may be activated and de-activated with a time delay provided by a hysteresis current. The microcomputer communicates with a memory incorporated in a battery pack. It reads from the memory the rated discharge current data specific to the battery pack, and stores it as a first predetermined value which corresponds to a current value at which the power consumption reducing function is activated. The power microcomputer subtracts the hysteresis current (defined as the maximum value of the reduced discharge current of the battery pack while the power consumption reducing function is active) from the first predetermined value, and stores the calculated value as a second predetermined value which corresponds to a current value at which the power consumption reducing function is de-activated. The hysteresis current prevents rapid cycling through activation and de-activation of the power consumption reducing function.
61 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus being adapted to be driven by a battery and comprising:
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measuring means for measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
first determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means exceeds a first predetermined value;
second determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
control means for activating the power consumption reducing function if the first determining means determines that the discharge current measured by the measuring means exceeds the first predetermined value, and after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if the second determining means determines that the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, comprising:
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measuring means for measuring a discharge current value of a power source which supplies power to operate the information processing apparatus;
first determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means exceeds a first predetermined value;
second determining means for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
control means for activating the power consumption reducing function if the first determining means determines that the discharge current measured by the measuring means exceeds the first predetermined value, and after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if the second determining means determines that the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than the second predetermined value.
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6. A power consumption control method of an information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus being capable of driven by a battery, said method comprising:
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measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
determining whether the measured discharge current value exceeds a first predetermined value;
activating the power consumption reducing function if it is determined that the measured discharge current value exceeds the first predetermined value;
determining whether the measured discharge current value is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if it is determined that the measured discharge current value is less than the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A power consumption control method of an information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, said method comprising:
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measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
determining whether the measured discharge current exceeds a first predetermined value;
activating the power consumption reducing function if it is determined that the measured discharge current value exceeds the first predetermined value;
determining whether the measured discharge current value is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if it is determined that the measured discharge current value is less than the second predetermined value.
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10. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus adapted to be driven by a battery and comprising:
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measuring means for measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
storing means for storing a plurality of predetermined values used to control activation and stoppage of the power consumption reducing function; and
control means for controlling the activation and stoppage of the power consumption reducing function based on the discharge current value measured by the measuring means and the plurality of predetermined values stored in the storing means.
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11. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus being adapted to be driven by a battery and comprising:
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a measuring circuit for measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
said microprocessor operative for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring circuit exceeds a first predetermined value;
said microprocessor operative for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring means is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
a control device, including said microprocessor for activating the power consumption reducing function if the microcomputer determines that the discharge current measured by the measuring circuit exceeds the first predetermined value, and after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if the microcomputer determines that the discharge current value measured by the measuring device is less than the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 17)
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15. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, comprising:
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a measuring circuit for measuring a discharge current value of a power source which supplies power to operate the information processing apparatus;
a first determining device for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring circuit exceeds a first predetermined value;
a second determining device for determining whether the discharge current value measured by the measuring circuit is less than a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value; and
a control device for activating the power consumption reducing function if the first determining device determines that the discharge current measured by the measuring circuit exceeds the first predetermined value, and after the power consumption reducing function is activated, stopping the power consumption reducing function if the second determining device determines that the discharge current value measured by the measuring circuit is less than the second predetermined value.
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16. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption reducing function to temporarily reduce power consumption, the information processing apparatus adapted to be driven by a battery and comprising:
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a measuring device for measuring a discharge current value of the battery;
a storing device for storing a plurality of predetermined values used to control activation and stoppage of the power consumption reducing function; and
a control device for controlling the activation and stoppage of the power consumption reducing function based on the discharge current value measured by the measuring device and the plurality of predetermined values stored in the storing device.
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Specification