ENERGY SAVING DEVICE

• US 20110231679A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Invent Technology Solutions Limited
• Original Assignee: Invent Technology Solutions Limited
• Inventors: Gunn, Jeffrey Matthew Titchener
• Application Number:
  US12/672,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A dedicated computer power saving device for a computer, the computer configured to enter one of at least two software controlled standby states, the device comprising a connection for connecting the device to the computer, and a dedicated user input configured to provide an input command to the computer upon operation, the input command configured to instruct the running of a program accessible by the computer, which program sets a default standby state of the computer to a desired standby state at least when the default standby state is different to the desired standby state, and issues a command to the computer to enter the default standby state.

Claims

1. A dedicated computer power saving device for a computer, the computer configured to enter one of at least two software controlled standby states, the device comprising:

a connection for connecting the device to the computer, and

a dedicated user input configured to provide an input command to the computer upon operation, the input command configured to instruct the running of a program accessible by the computer, which program;

sets a default standby state of the computer to a desired standby state at least when the default standby state is different than the desired standby state,

and issues a command to the computer to enter the default standby state.

2. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 1 comprising a keyboard emulator configured to provide the input command.

3. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 1 in which the connector comprises a USB link connectable to a computer.

4. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 1 in which the dedicated user input is configured to provide a wake input command to the computer upon operation, the wake input configured to wake the computer from the default standby state.

5. A dedicated computer power saving device for a computer, the device comprising:

a connection for connecting the device to the computer, and

a dedicated user input configured to provide an input command to the computer upon operation of the input, the input command configured to instruct the switching of the computer into a standby state in which less power is consumed by the computer than when the computer is fully operable, the device comprising a keyboard emulator configured to provide the input command.

6. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 5 in which the input command comprises one or more predetermined keystrokes.

7. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 5 in which the input command is configured to instruct the running of a program accessible by the computer, the program issuing a command to the computer to enter the standby state.

8. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 5 in which the connector comprises a USB link connected to a computer.

9. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 5 in which the dedicated user input is configured to provide a wake input command to the computer upon operation, the wake input configured to wake the computer from the default standby state.

10. A computer power saving system comprising:

a computer, and

a dedicated computer power saving device comprising;

a connection for connecting the device to the computer, and

a dedicated user input configured to provide an input command to the computer upon operation of the input, the input command configured to instruct the switching of the computer into a standby state in which less power is consumed by the computer than when the computer is fully operable, the device comprising a keyboard emulator configured to provide the input command.

11. A computer power saving system according to claim 10 wherein the input command is configured to instruct the running of a program accessible by the computer.

12. A computer power saving system according to claim 11 in which the program is configured to log the amount of time the computer spends in the standby state.

13. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 12 wherein the program is further configured to display an indication of the amount of time spent in the standby state.

14. A dedicated computer power saving device according to claim 13 wherein the program is further configured to display the indication of the amount of time spent in the standby state upon awakening from the standby state.

15. A method of saving computer system power comprising steps of:

providing a computer;

providing a program on the computer configured to cause the computer to enter a standby state when run;

connecting a dedicated user input device to the computer, the dedicated user input device comprising a keyboard emulator, such that when activated the dedicated user input device sends an input command to the computer to run the program; and

activating the dedicated user input device to run the program.

16. A dedicated computer power saving device for a computer, comprising:

a connection for connecting the device to the computer; and

a dedicated user input configured to provide an input to the computer upon operation of the input, the input command configured to instruct the switching of the computer into a standby state in which less power is consumed by the computer than when the computer is fully operable.

17. A dedicated computer power saving device for a computer according to claim 16 wherein the user input is a manually actuable switch.