METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING POWER IN MOBILE DEVICES TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20160169948A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Thielen, Joshua, Stroz, Glenn, Wang, Shuangquan, King, Lawrence, Chan, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/566,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20160169948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device is provided. A voltage is sensed across a sense resistor and the current is then calculated by dividing the sensed voltage by the value of the sense resistor. The method incorporates a buffer for storing the sensed voltage and calculated current. In addition, the buffer permits the measurements to be taken while the electronic device is in a sleep state. The measurements that may be taken include voltage, current, and power.

Claims

1. A method of measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:

sensing a voltage across a sense resistor; and

calculating a current based on the sensed voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a voltage of at least one sense line.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the voltage measured is a power rail voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a measured analog-to-digital code into a buffer and

converting the stored sensed voltage to a calculated current.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting voltage, current, and power measurements when the electronic device is in a sleep state.

6. An apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:

an embedded power measurement system;

a target processor; and

at least one series sense element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the embedded power management system comprises:

a processor and digital logic circuits;

a memory buffer;

at least one analog to digital converter (ADC); and

at least one multiplexer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the EPM system is powered by a battery of the electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the EPM is powered by an external power source.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the external power source is a battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the EPM system is powered by an external power source connected via a universal serial bus (USB).

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the EPM includes a buffer.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the EPM is provided on a daughtercard that is external to the electronic device.

14. An apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:

means for sensing a voltage across a sense resistor; and

means for calculating a current based on the sense voltage.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for measuring a voltage of at least one sense line.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for measuring a voltage measures a power rail voltage.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for storing the sensed voltage; and

means for storing the calculated current.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for collecting voltage, current, and power measurement

when the electronic device is in a sleep state.