SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING POWER AT A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AND A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE DOCKING STATION

• US 20100244765A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Pineda, Luis, Tessitore, Ronald J., Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Gill, Manjit Singh
• Granted Patent: US 8,653,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station, switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery, and powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery. Further, the method may include determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition and charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition. The method may also include monitoring a PCD docking station battery power, determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition, and transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

Claims

1. A method of managing power distribution between a portable computing device (PCD) and a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

determining that the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery; and

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and

charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and

transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition; and

transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

monitoring the PCD battery power; and

determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

11. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

means for determining that the PCD is docked with a PCD docking station;

means for switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery; and

means for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery.

12. The portable computing device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and

means for charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.

13. The portable computing device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and

means for transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

14. The portable computing device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition; and

means for transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.

15. The portable computing device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station.

16. The portable computing device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

17. The portable computing device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

means for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

18. The portable computing device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for monitoring the PCD battery power; and

means for determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

19. The portable computing device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

20. The portable computing device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

21. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

determine that the PCD is docked with a PCD docking station;

switch a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery; and

power the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery.

22. The portable computing device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and

charge the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.

23. The portable computing device of claim 22, wherein the processor is further operable to:

monitor a PCD docking station battery power;

determine whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and

transmit a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

24. The portable computing device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition; and

transmit a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.

25. The portable computing device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station.

26. The portable computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further operable to:

charge the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

27. The portable computing device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further operable to:

switch the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

power the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

28. The portable computing device of claim 27, wherein the processor is further operable to:

monitor the PCD battery power; and

determine whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

29. The portable computing device of claim 28, wherein the processor is further operable to:

transmit a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

30. The portable computing device of claim 29, wherein the processor is further operable to:

power down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

31. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

at least one instruction for determining that a portable computing device (PCD) is docked with a PCD docking station;

at least one instruction for switching a power supply to the PCD from a PCD battery to a PCD docking station battery; and

at least one instruction for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether a PCD battery power equals a charge condition; and

at least one instruction for charging the PCD battery when the PCD battery power equals the charge condition.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for monitoring a PCD docking station battery power;

at least one instruction for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a warning condition; and

at least one instruction for transmitting a first warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the warning condition.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether the PCD docking station battery power equals a critical condition; and

at least one instruction for transmitting a second warning when the PCD docking station battery power equals the critical condition.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining whether an external power source is connected to the PCD docking station.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for charging the PCD docking station battery when the external power source is connected.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for switching the power supply to the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD docking station battery to the PCD battery; and

at least one instruction for powering the PCD and the PCD docking station from the PCD battery.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for monitoring the PCD battery power; and

at least one instruction for determining whether the PCD battery power equals a power down condition.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for transmitting a third warning when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for powering down the PCD and the PCD docking station when the PCD battery power equals the power down condition.