APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR REDUCING IDLE POWER IN A POWER SUPPLY
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing idle power in a power supply, the apparatus comprising:
- a connection module that determines whether a load is connected to an output terminal of a power supply;
an idle module that turns off one or more active components of the power supply for an idle interval in response to the connection module determining that a load is not connected to the output;
a monitor module that turns on one or more active components of the power supply for a monitor interval in response to the end of an idle interval, wherein the connection module determines whether the load is connected to the output terminal of the power supply during the monitor interval; and
an activation module that turns on the one or more active components of the power supply in response to a determination by the connection module that the load is connected to the power supply during the monitor interval, wherein the power supply maintains a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method is provided for reducing idle power in a power supply. The apparatus includes a connection module to determine whether a load is connected to the output terminal of the power supply. Also included is an idle module that turns off the power supply for an idle interval when the connection module determines that a load is not connected to the output. A monitor module turns on the power supply for a monitor interval when the idle interval ends. During the monitor interval, the connection module determines whether the load has been connected to the output terminal of the power supply. An activation module turns on the power supply if the connection module determines, during the monitor interval, that the load has been connected to the power supply. If the load has not been connected, another idle interval is initiated.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for reducing idle power in a power supply, the apparatus comprising:
-
a connection module that determines whether a load is connected to an output terminal of a power supply; an idle module that turns off one or more active components of the power supply for an idle interval in response to the connection module determining that a load is not connected to the output; a monitor module that turns on one or more active components of the power supply for a monitor interval in response to the end of an idle interval, wherein the connection module determines whether the load is connected to the output terminal of the power supply during the monitor interval; and an activation module that turns on the one or more active components of the power supply in response to a determination by the connection module that the load is connected to the power supply during the monitor interval, wherein the power supply maintains a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An apparatus for reducing idle power in a power supply, the apparatus comprising:
-
a sensor module that measures the output power at the output terminal of the power supply and compares the output power to a pre-defined threshold value; an idle module that turns off the power supply and deactivates sensing by the sensor module for an idle interval in response to the sensor module determining that the output power is less than the pre-defined threshold value; a monitor module that turns on the power supply and activates sensing by the sensor module for a monitor interval in response to the end of the idle interval, wherein the sensor module measures the output power during the monitor interval; a deactivation module that activates the idle module to turn off the power supply and sensing by the sensing module for an idle period in response to the sensor module measuring an output power less than the pre-defined threshold value during the monitor interval; and an activation module that returns the power supply to an active state in response to the sensor module measuring an output power greater than the pre-defined threshold value during the monitor interval, wherein the power supply in the active state provides a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for reducing idle power in a power supply, the method comprising:
-
measuring the output power at the output terminal of the power supply and comparing the output power to a pre-defined threshold value; turning off the power supply for an idle interval in response to measuring an output power that is less than the pre-defined threshold value; turning on the power supply for a monitor interval and measuring the output power at the output terminal during the monitor interval, wherein turning on the power supply for monitoring occurs in response to the end of the idle interval; and providing a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply in response to measuring an output power greater than the pre-defined threshold value during the monitor interval. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. A computer program product comprising instructions stored in a computer readable medium for reducing idle power in a power supply, the computer program product comprising:
-
a sensor module that determines whether a power supply is providing power to a load; an idle module that turns off the power supply and deactivates sensing by the sensor module for an idle interval in response to the sensor module determining that the power supply is not providing power to the load; a monitor module that turns on the power supply and activates sensing by the sensor module for a monitor interval in response to the end of an idle interval, wherein the sensor module determines whether the power supply is providing power to the load during the monitor interval; a deactivation module that activates the idle module to turn off the power supply and sensing by the sensing module for an idle period in F response to the sensor module determining that the power supply is not providing power to the load during the monitor interval; and an activation module that returns the power supply to an active state in response to the sensor module determining that the power supply is providing power to the load during the monitor interval, wherein the power supply in the active state provides a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 30)
-
-
27. A system for reducing idle power in a power supply, the system comprising:
a power supply that receives a regulated electrical input and generates a regulated electrical output, the power supply comprising; a sensor module that measures the output power at the output terminal of the power supply and compares the output power to a pre-defined threshold value; an idle module that turns off the power supply and deactivates sensing by the sensor module for an idle interval in response to the sensor module determining that the output power is less than the pre-defined threshold value; a monitor module that turns on the power supply and activates sensing by the sensor module for a monitor interval in response to the end of the idle interval, wherein the sensor module measures the output power during the monitor interval; a deactivation module that activates the idle module to turn off the power supply and sensing by the sensing module for an idle period in response to the sensor module measuring an output power less than the pre-defined threshold value during the monitor interval; and an activation module that returns the power supply to an active state in response to the sensor module measuring an output power greater than the pre-defined threshold value during the monitor interval, wherein the power supply in the active state provides a regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
Specification