Signal Variance Sensing Power Controller

• US 20110221271A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velvetwire LLC
• Original Assignee: Velvetwire LLC
• Inventors: Bodnar, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,633,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/31
• 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 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A signal variance sensing power controller is described. The power controller functions by measuring the power consumption of a first device, and detecting fluctuations in the power consumption. The power controller then determines a level of variability, based on measured changes in the first device. Based on the level of variability, the power controller then determines a state of the first device, and influences a second device based on that state.

Claims

1. A method of reducing power consumption by a second device comprising:

measuring fluctuation in power consumption by a first device;

determining a state of the first device based on variations in the power consumption over time; and

influencing power consumption of a second device based on the state of the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the fluctuation in the power consumption comprises:

measuring the power signal at one or more times during an AC power cycle; and

comparing the measured value to a baseline to determine the fluctuation in the power consumption.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more times comprises one or more of:

a minimum amplitude, a maximum amplitude, periodic intervals during the AC power cycle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein comparing the measured value to the baseline additionally comprises determining whether the comparison should be considered a change based on fluctuation criteria.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluctuation criteria comprises a change threshold, and the change threshold is one of:

a fixed value, or a value calculated based on the signal amplitude.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluctuation criteria comprises a timing threshold.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the measured value used for comparison comprises:

an amplitude of the signal, a slope of the signal, or a characteristic signal shape, and wherein the baseline comprises;

a measured prior value or an ideal value of the amplitude, slope, or characteristic signal shape.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein influencing the second device comprises providing and removing power supplied to the second device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein influencing the second device comprises signaling the second device.

10. A method comprising:

a timer thread to;

increment a time counter;

determine a fluctuation in the power consumption associated with a device at a time counter interval;

determine the device state based on the fluctuation;

a signal thread to;

synchronize the time counter with an alternating current (AC) power input;

influence a related device based on the device state.

11. A variance sensing controller comprising:

variability analysis to determine whether fluctuation in an alternating current signal to which a device is coupled indicates that the device is in use; and

state logic to change a setting when the variability analysis logic determines that the state of the device has changed.

12. The controller of claim 11, further comprising:

measurement logic to measure the signal at one or more positions in an AC power cycle.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the one or more positions comprise one or more of:

a minimum amplitude, a maximum amplitude, and periodic intervals during the AC power cycle.

14. The controller of claim 12, further comprising:

a comparison logic to compare a measured value with a baseline, to determine whether the measured signal indicates a change in the power consumption.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the measured value used for comparison comprises:

an amplitude of the signal, a slope of the signal, or a characteristic signal shape, and wherein the baseline comprises;

a measured prior value or an ideal value of the amplitude, slope, or characteristic signal shape.

16. The controller of claim 14, wherein the change comprises a positive change, a negative change, or no change.

17. The controller of claim 14, wherein the variability analysis is based on a measurement of at least one positive change, and at least one negative change in the amplitude of the signal.

18. The controller of claim 14, further comprising:

a change rejection logic to reject the change when the change does not meet fluctuation criteria.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the fluctuation criteria is a change threshold comprising one of:

a set value, and a value based on a percentage of the measured alternating current signal.

20. The controller of claim 18, wherein the fluctuation criteria is elapsed time.

21. The controller of claim 11, further comprising:

a related device controller which is connected or disconnected based on the state, as determined by the state logic.

22. The controller of claim 11, further comprising:

a state propagator which sends a signal reflecting the state determined by the state logic.