DEVICE POWER MANAGEMENT BASED ON DETECTED POWER SOURCE

• US 20150121098A1
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nicholson, John Weldon, Seethaler, Kenneth Scott, Locker, Howard, Springfield, Randall Scott
• Granted Patent: US 10,324,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• 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 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

An aspect provides an information handling device, including: a connection to an external power supply; a processor; and a memory; the memory having instructions executable by the processor to: detect that the connection to the external power supply is providing an input of power; ascertain via the connection to the external power supply that the input of power is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An information handling device, comprising:

a connection to an external power supply;

a processor; and

a memory;

the memory having instructions executable by the processor to;

detect that the connection to the external power supply is providing an input of power;

ascertain via the connection to the external power supply that the input of power is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and

automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic.

2. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein to ascertain comprises receiving a signal from a circuit in an AC/DC power converter that provides information about the input of power.

3. The information handling device of claim 2, wherein to ascertain comprises determining if the input of power is power supplied by a public utility.

4. The information handling device of claim 3, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

5. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises characteristics of AC power supplied by a public utility and AC power supplied by a universal power supply (UPS).

6. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises high frequency energy.

7. The information handling device of claim 1, wherein to automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device comprises reducing power consumption of at least one hardware component of the information handling device responsive to ascertaining the predetermined characteristic is not associated with power supplied by a public utility.

8. A method, comprising:

detecting, in an AC/DC converter, a voltage of an external power supply;

ascertaining that the voltage is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and

providing a signal to an information handling device receiving DC power supply from the AC/DC converter to automatically adjust a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ascertaining is performed by a circuit in the AC/DC power converter, the circuit categorizing the voltage of the power source.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the categorizing comprises determining if the voltage originates from a public utility.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining if the voltage originates from a public utility comprises determining that the voltage has a waveform and the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining if the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal comprises categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform comprises determining if harmonics of the waveform exceed a threshold amount.

15. A method, comprising:

detecting, at an information handling device, a voltage of an external power supply;

ascertaining, via the connection to the external power supply of the information handling device, that the input of power is derived from a source having a predetermined characteristic; and

automatically adjusting a power consumption setting of the information handling device based on the predetermined characteristic.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ascertaining comprises receiving a signal from a circuit in an AC/DC power converter that categorizes the output waveform of the power source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein categorizing the output waveform comprises determining if the output waveform originates from a public utility.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the power supplied by a public utility is delivered to a wall outlet.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining if the voltage originates from a public utility comprises determining that the voltage has a waveform and the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining if the waveform is substantially non-sinusoidal comprises categorizing frequency characteristics of the waveform.