DYNAMIC POWER MANAGEMENT IN A PORTABLE MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20110085672A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald J. Novotney, Jeffrey Allan Hammerstrom, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Robert Michelet, Scott Krueger
• Original Assignee: Donald J. Novotney, Jeffrey Allan Hammerstrom, Jesse L. Dorogusker, Robert Michelet, Scott Krueger
• Inventors: Krueger, Scott, Dorogusker, Jesse L., Hammerstrom, Jeffrey Allan, Michelet, Robert, Novotney, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/55
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

A consumer electronic product (e.g., a portable media player ported to a media delivery accessory) is powered by a limited capacity DC power source (such as a battery or mini-fuel cell). The consumer electronic product limits the maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) that can be produced by the speakers. In one embodiment, the maximum allowable SPL is based upon an amount of stored energy available in the limited capacity DC power source.

Claims

1. A method of shutting down a consumer electronic product so as to avoid generation of audio artifacts, comprising:

determining if a shutdown is imminent, muting an audio amplifier;

providing a user feedback indicating that a loss of power is imminent;

if all remaining electronic components are not powered down, then powering down all remaining electronic components in the consumer electronic product;

if all residual power is exhausted, then discontinuing the user feedback.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining if a shutdown is imminent comprises:

receiving a shutdown signal indicating the imminent loss of power.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising;

receiving residual power from a stored charge in a capacitor coupled to an internal power supply used to monitor a charge status of the internal power supply prior to shutdown.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein when the stored charge is depleted, then the residual power is exhausted.

5. Computer program product executable by a processor for shutting down a consumer electronic product so as to avoid generation of audio artifacts, comprising:

computer code for determining if a shutdown is imminent, computer code for muting an audio amplifier;

computer code for providing a user feedback indicating that a loss of power is imminent;

computer code for powering down all remaining electronic components in the consumer electronic product if all remaining electronic components are not powered down;

computer code for discontinuing the user feedback if all residual power is exhausted; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

6. Computer program product as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer code for determining if a shutdown is imminent comprises:

computer code for receiving a shutdown signal indicating the imminent loss of power.

7. Computer program product as recited in claim 6, further comprising;

computer code for receiving residual power from a stored charge in a capacitor coupled to an internal power supply used to monitor a charge status of the internal power supply prior to shutdown.

8. Computer program product as recited in claim 7, wherein when the stored charge is depleted, then the residual power is exhausted.