SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING POWER IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20060137198A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cato, Robert Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/366.240
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A system and method for conserving power in an electronic device. The system includes a processor and a tilt sensor operatively coupled to the processor. The processor utilizes the tilt sensor to monitor a tilt angle of the electronic device, and causes the electronic device to enter a power conservation state if the tilt angle falls outside of a predetermined range. As a result, the electronic device goes into a power conservation state immediately when the electronic device is no longer in use.

Claims

1. A system for conserving power in an electronic device, the circuit comprising:

a processor;

a tilt sensor operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor utilizes the tilt sensor to monitor a tilt angle of the electronic device and causes the electronic device to enter a power conservation state if the tilt angle falls outside of a predetermined range; and

an angle measuring unit for storing the predetermined range and for comparing a current tilt angle to the predetermined range.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tilt sensor comprises a weighted device moveably coupled to the electronic device, wherein the position of the weighted device corresponds to the tilt angle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the tilt sensor further comprises a potentiometer operatively coupled to the weighted device, wherein the potentiometer outputs a voltage based on the position of the weighted device, and wherein the voltage corresponds to the tilt angle.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the weighted device is a weighted wheel.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the weighted device comprises a weight, wherein the weight causes the weighted device to rotate when the tilt angle changes.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an override button so that a user can override the power conservation state by pressing the override button.

6. (canceled)

8. A system for conserving power in an electronic device, the circuit comprising:

a processor;

a tilt sensor operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor utilizes the tilt sensor to monitor a tilt angle of the electronic device and causes the electronic device to enter a power conservation state if the tilt angle falls outside of a predetermined range, wherein the tilt sensor comprises;

a weighted device moveably coupled to the electronic device, wherein the position of the weighted device corresponds to the tilt angle; and

a potentiometer operatively coupled to the weighted device, wherein the potentiometer outputs a voltage based on the position of the weighted device, and wherein the voltage corresponds to the tilt angle; and

an angle measuring unit for storing the predetermined range, and for comparing a current tilt angle to the predetermined range.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising an override button so that a user can override the power conservation state by pressing the override button.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the weighted device is a weighted wheel.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the weighted device comprises a weight, wherein the weight causes the weighted device to rotate when the tilt angle changes.

12. A method for conserving power in an electronic device, the method comprising:

monitoring a tilt angle of the electronic system;

storing the predetermined range;

comparing a current tilt angle to the predetermined range; and

entering a power conservation state when the tilt angle falls outside of the predetermined range.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring step comprises measuring the tilt angle when information is entered into the electronic system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the information comprises input information.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring step comprises storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is based on the range of stored tilt angles.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring step comprises storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is larger than the range of stored tilt angles by a predetermined number of degrees.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined number of degrees is substantially greater than 1 degree.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring step comprises storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is larger than the range of stored tilt angles by a predetermined number of percentage points.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising entering a normal power state if a user overrides the power conservation state.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the entering step comprises entering a low-power sleep state.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the entering step comprises turning off the electronic system.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined range is manually programmed by a user.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined range is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees.

24. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for conserving power in an electronic system, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

monitoring a tilt angle of the electronic system;

storing a predetermined range;

comparing a current tilt angle to the predetermined range; and

entering a power conservation state when the tilt angle falls outside of the predetermined range.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the monitoring step comprises program instructions for measuring the tilt angle when information is entered into the electronic system.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the information comprises input information.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the monitoring step comprises program instructions for storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is based on the range of stored tilt angles.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the monitoring step comprises program instructions for storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is larger than the range of stored tilt angles by a predetermined number of degrees.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein the predetermined number of degrees is substantially greater than 1 degree.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the monitoring step comprises program instructions for storing the tilt angles monitored during a prior usage of the electronic device, wherein the predetermined range is larger than the range of stored tilt angles by a predetermined number of percentage points.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 24 further comprising entering a normal power state if a user overrides the power conservation state.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the entering step comprises program instructions for entering a low-power sleep state.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the entering step comprises program instructions for turning off the electronic system.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the predetermined range is manually programmed by a user.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein the predetermined range is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees.