COMPUTER SYSTEM POWER SOURCE WITH IMPROVED LIGHT-LOAD EFFICIENCY
First Claim
1. An apparatus that supplies power in a computer system, comprising:
- a power adapter coupled to a source of electrical power;
a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system;
a full-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus, wherein the full-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is operating in a full-power mode; and
a low-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus in parallel with the power mechanism, wherein the low-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is in operating in a low-power mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that supplies power in a computer system. The system includes a power adapter coupled to a source of electrical power and a set of a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system. A full-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is operating in a full-power mode. A low-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus in parallel with the power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is in operating in a low-power mode.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus that supplies power in a computer system, comprising:
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a power adapter coupled to a source of electrical power; a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system; a full-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus, wherein the full-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is operating in a full-power mode; and a low-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus in parallel with the power mechanism, wherein the low-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is in operating in a low-power mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions and data for the processor; a power adapter coupled to a source of electrical power; a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system; a full-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus, wherein the full-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is operating in a full-power mode; and a low-power mechanism coupled between the power adapter and the power bus in parallel with the power mechanism, wherein the low-power mechanism supplies power for the power consumers while the computer system is in operating in a low-power mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A circuit for supplying power, comprising:
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a full-power mechanism coupled to an input and an output for the circuit, wherein the full-power mechanism is configured to provide power with high power conversion efficiency in a range of full-power output currents; a low-power mechanism coupled in parallel with the full-power mechanism, wherein the low-power mechanism is configured to provide power with high power conversion efficiency in a range of low-power output currents; wherein the low-power mechanism is enabled when the circuit is outputting low-power output currents and disabled when the circuit is outputting full-power output currents; and wherein the full-power mechanism is enabled when the circuit is outputting full-power output currents and disabled when the circuit is outputting low-power output currents. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for supplying power in a computer system that supports operating in a full-power mode and a low-power mode, comprising:
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operating in full-power mode, wherein operating in the full-power mode involves disabling a low-power mechanism and supplying power to a set of power consumers coupled to a power bus in the computer system using a full-power mechanism; and upon commencing operation in low-power mode, disabling the full-power mechanism and supplying power to the set of power consumers using the low-power mechanism.
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Specification