POWER SOURCE DEPENDENT PROGRAM EXECUTION

• US 20080059814A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies Incorporated (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Esliger, James L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An electronic device having a processor powered by a power source may be operated by providing a plurality of program portions individually executable by the processor for performing the same computing function. Each program portion causes the processor to exhibit a different instantaneous power consumption profile while performing the computing function. A particular program portion is selected based on at least one characteristic of the power source and executed on the processor to perform the computing function.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic device having a processor powered by a power source, comprising:

providing a plurality of program portions individually executable by said processor for performing the same computing function, each one of said plurality of program portions causing said processor to exhibit a different instantaneous power consumption profile while performing said computing function;

selecting, based on at least one characteristic of said power source, a particular one of said plurality of program portions from said plurality of program portions; and

executing said particular one of said plurality of program portions on said processor to perform said computing function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said particular program portion is selected based on said characteristics of said processor and said characteristics of said power source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a fuel cell.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said particular program portion is selected to maximize said battery'"'"'s useful discharge time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said particular program portion is selected to match said battery'"'"'s instantaneous discharge capacity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of program portions comprises at least one of a first program portion that causes said processor to exhibit a constant current draw pattern, and a second program portion that causes said processor to exhibit a pulsed current draw pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting is performed in response to a request to perform said computing function.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting is performed during power-up of said electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of program portions is associated with a respective type of power source, and wherein said selecting comprises determining that said power source is of a particular type and that said particular program portion is associated with said particular type.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of program portions are each associated with a different type of power source selected from nickel-iron batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, alkaline batteries, nickel-metal-hydride batteries, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, zinc-carbon batteries, zinc-chloride batteries, silver-oxide batteries, lithium batteries, mercury batteries, zinc-air batteries, lithium-ion polymer batteries, sodium-sulphur fuel cells, and solar batteries.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of program portions are each associated with a different type of batteries selected from disposable batteries and rechargeable batteries.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one characteristics of said power source is provided by said power source.

19. A computer readable medium storing computer readable code, said code, when executed by a processor powered by a power source, causes said processor to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a power source for powering said processor; and

a computer readable memory storing processor executable code, said code when executed by said processor causing said processor to;

provide a plurality of program portions individually executable by said processor for performing the same computing function, each one of said plurality of program portions causing said processor to exhibit a different instantaneous power consumption profile while performing said computing function;

select, based on characteristics of said power source, a particular program portion from said plurality of program portions; and

execute said particular program portion to perform said computing function.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein said particular program portion is selected based on said characteristics of said processor and said characteristics of said power source.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein said power source comprises a battery.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein each one of said plurality of program portions is associated with a respective type of power sources, and selection of said particular program portion comprises determining that said power source is of a particular type and that said particular program portion is associated with said particular type.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein said power source comprises a component for providing said at least one characteristic of said power source.

20. A method of configuring an electronic device, comprising a processor and a source of stored electrical energy, said method comprising:

determining a power provision profile for said source when providing electrical power to said device;

coding a program portion based on said power provision profile in order to increase the useful life of said energy storage source, using said program portion;

storing said program portion on said device for later execution.

21. Computer readable storage medium storing program portions used to form an electronic device having an energy storage source, said program portions comprising code coded based on a power provision profile of said energy source, and coded to increase the useful life of said energy storage source when said device executes said program portions.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said program portions are executable by a processor.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein said program portions may be converted to form a portion of an integrated circuit.