LOAD CONDITION CONTROLLED POWER MODULE

• US 20100019583A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: DuBose, Richard G., Thornton, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,795,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and circuit for reducing power consumption of a power module during idle conditions is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a power module is configured for reducing power during idle mode by disengaging at least one power output from a power input. A power module may include one or more power outputs and one or more power module circuits, with power input connected to the power outputs through the power module circuit(s). The power module circuit may include a current measuring system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load at the power output. If current measuring system behavior indicates that a power output is drawing substantially no power from the power input, the switch disengages the power input from the power output.

Claims

1. A power module configured as a component of an electronic device to reduce power consumption during idle operation of the electronic device, said power module comprising:

a power input of said power module;

at least one power output of said power module configured to transmit power to an electronic device; and

a power module circuit configured to receive power from said power input and transmit power to said at least one power output;

wherein said power module circuit disengages transmitting power to said at least one power output in response to said at least one power output drawing substantially no power.

2. The power module of claim 1, said power module circuit comprising:

a current measuring system configured to monitor the current from said power input, wherein said current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load at said at least one power output;

a switch in communication with said current measuring system and said at least one power output; and

a control circuit configured to receive said output power level signal and control the opening and closing of said switch to disengage said at least one power output from power.

3. The power module of claim 2, wherein said control circuit is at least one of a latching circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor.

4. The power module of claim 2, wherein said switch is at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a TRIAC, and an optically isolated TRIAC.

5. The power module of claim 2, wherein said control circuit is configured to receive a control signal to facilitate the opening and closing of said switch.

6. The power module of claim 1, further comprising a green mode switch configured to select an operating mode of said at least one power output, wherein said operating mode is at least one of a normal mode and a green mode.

7. The power module of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED indicator configured to indicate if said electronic device connected to said at least one power output is active.

8. The power module of claim 7, wherein said at least one LED indicator is further configured to flash if said power module circuit is testing said at least one power output.

9. The power module of claim 1, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) configured to display data, wherein said data is at least one of load power provided to said at least one power output, power saved by said at least one power output, power saved by said power module, and power consumed by said power module.

10. The power module of claim 2, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch to a closed state.

11. The power module of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said switch to an open state.

12. The power module of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is a push button.

13. The power module of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is located remotely from said power module.

15. The power module of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a single control circuit and re-engage a single switch to a closed state.

16. The power module of claim 15, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage a single switch to an open state.

17. The power module of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a plurality of control circuits and re-engage a plurality of switches to a closed state.

18. The power module of claim 17, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage a plurality of switches to an open state.

19. The power module of claim 2, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate said control circuit from said power input.

20. The power module of claim 1, wherein substantially no power is approximately 0-1% of a typical maximum output load of said electronic device at said at least one power output.

21. The power module of claim 1, wherein said power module is integrated into the electronic device.

22. The power module of claim 1, wherein said power module is removable from the electronic device.

23. The power module of claim 1, further comprising means for setting the duration of a sleep mode duty cycle.

24. The power module of claim 1, wherein said power module circuit is configured such that parameters of said power module may be modified by a user.

14. The power module of 10, wherein said reconnection device is controlled by at least one of an infra-red signal, a radio frequency signal, and a signal received through said power input.

25. A power module circuit configured for integration into an electronic device for reducing power drawn from a power output during idle conditions, said power module circuit comprising:

a current measuring system configured to provide an output signal proportional to a load at the power output;

a switch configured to disengage power from the power output; and

a control circuit configured to interpret said output signal and control said switch;

wherein said switch disengages power from the power output if the load at the power output is below a threshold level.

26. The power module circuit of claim 25, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch.

27. The power module circuit of claim 25, wherein said control circuit is at least one of a latching circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor, and wherein said switch is at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a TRIAC, and an optically isolated TRIAC.

28. A power module configured for integration into an electronic device to efficiently provide power to an electronic device, said power module comprising:

at least one power output configured to provide power to said electronic device;

a switch having at least an open state and a closed state, wherein said switch is in communication with said at least one power output and a power input;

a current measuring system configured to monitor the current drawn by said at least one power output; and

a control circuit configured to control the state of said switch;

wherein said control circuit sets said switch to the open state if the current drawn by said at least one power output is below a threshold level, such that said at least one power output is effectively disengaged from said power input.

29. The power module of claim 28, wherein said control circuit tests a load condition at said at least one power output by setting said switch to the closed state and determining if the current drawn by said at least one power output is below the threshold level.

30. The power module of claim 28, wherein said control circuit controls said at least one power output individually.

31. The power module of claim 28, wherein said control circuit controls a plurality of said at least one power output.

32. The power module of claim 28, wherein said current measuring system is a current transformer.

33. The power module of claim 28, wherein said current measuring system is at least one of a resistor with a differential amplifier, a current sensing chip, and a Hall-effect device.

34. The power module of claim 28, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch to the closed state.

35. The power module of claim 28, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate said control circuit from said power input.

36. The power module of claim 28, wherein said control circuit comprises a current sensor and a logic control unit.

37. The power module of claim 36, further comprising a photocell configured to measure a level of ambient light surrounding said power module, wherein said logic control unit is configured to disengage said at least one power output based upon the level of ambient light.

38. The power module of claim 36, further comprising an internal clock, wherein said logic control unit uses said internal clock to determine periods of use of said at least one power output.

39. The power module of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a predetermined level.

40. The power module of claim 39, wherein said predetermined level is about I watt or less.

41. The power module of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a learned level determined by long term monitoring of the load conditions at said at least one power output.

42. The power module of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a percentage of a determined approximate low power level of said electronic device.

43. The power module of claim 42, wherein said percentage of a determined approximate low power level is at least one range of approximately 100-105%, approximately 100-110%, and approximately 110-120%.

44. The power module of claim 28, wherein said at least one power output comprises a first power output with a first threshold level and a second power output with a second threshold level, wherein said first threshold level is different from said second threshold level.

45. A method of facilitating lower power consumption using a power module configured as a component of an electrical device, said method comprising:

providing power from said power module to the electronic device at a power output;

monitoring with a current measuring system a load condition at said power output;

transmitting a measured load condition to a control circuit;

controlling with said control circuit the state of a switch; and

setting the state of said switch to open if the load condition is below a threshold level and effectively disengaging said power output from a power input.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising a testing method of the load condition at said power output, said testing method comprising:

setting said switch to a closed state; and

determining if the load condition is below the threshold level.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

overriding said control circuit using a reconnection device; and

reengaging said switch to a closed state.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising electrically isolating said control circuit from said power input using a power disconnect.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

monitoring the load condition at said power output; and

determining said threshold level based upon the monitoring of the load condition.