Balancing power supply and demand

• US 20070229024A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Peter, Nguyen, Don
• Application Number:
  US11/395,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• 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 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus to balance adapter power supply and computing device power demand. In one embodiment, power to/from battery pack(s) maybe controlled by adjusting the output voltage of the power adapter via the current input to the power adapter through a feedback pin to meet power demand of electrical loads. Another embodiment provides a way to adjust the activities of the electrical loads such that neither adapter power rating nor the electrical load power limit is exceeded while avoiding system shutdown.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power monitor module to adjust output voltage of a power adapter by modifying control current to a power adapter in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power module modifies the control current to the power adapter through a feedback pin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power adapter is external to the computing device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the feedback pin to detect power rating of the power adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power module is implemented in the computing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output voltage of the power adapter is variable and directly controlled by the control current through the feedback pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising to modify power consumption of electrical loads.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electrical loads are coupled to the computing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the electrical load power consumption does not exceed power rating of the adapter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power module manages power demand for the electrical loads.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a I/O hub coupled to the power module, wherein the I/O hub to request adjustment of power to the electrical loads.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrical load to modify power consumption.

13. A method comprising:

controlling the output voltage of a power adapter by modifying control current to a power adapter through a feedback pin in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising detecting power rating of adapter through the feedback pin.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing adapter output voltage by modifying current through the feedback pin.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising reducing adapter output current when power demand approaches adapter power rating.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising reducing adapter output voltage when adapter power rating is exceeded.

18. The method of claim 17 adjusting charging/discharging activities of battery packs to supply power to electrical loads to satisfy power demand.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising managing power demand of the electrical loads.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting power demand of the electrical loads.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing electrical load power information from the power module to the computing device.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing system power limit to the power module through a system management controller.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising adjusting electrical load power demand through an input/output hub.

24. A system comprising:

a nonvolatile memory device coupled to a computing device to store data; and

a power monitor module to modify control current to a power adapter in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the power module to modify power consumption of electrical loads.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the computing device comprises volatile memory selected from a group comprising RAM, DRAM, and SRAM.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the nonvolatile memory device is selected from a group comprising a hard drive and a floppy disk drive.