System for distributed power management in portable computers
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring, collecting and acting upon power-related data in a portable computer to maximize an amount of time the portable computer can be used between the recharging of a battery with minimal user intervention, the portable computer having a user interface and a perceived state of operation, the system comprising:
- a plurality of independently controllable power planesa plurality of central processing units (CPUs), coupled to said plurality of independently controllable power planes, operating asynchronously with respect to each other to selectively control application of power to said plurality of independently controllable power planes, each of said plurality of CPUs performing power management functions, said plurality of CPUs including;
a main processor having a first set of multiple operational states, said main processor controlling said plurality of independently controllable power planes, whereby a present state of said main processor determines the perceived state of operation of the portable computer,a service processor, coupled to said main processor, having a second set of multiple operational states, said service processor configured to manage peripheral devices, anda battery microcontroller configured to manage power input from one or more power sources coupled to the portable computer, said power sources including a battery having a temperature and a voltage, said battery microcontroller comprising a battery processor having a third set of multiple operational states; and
power management means for controlling the operation of each of said plurality of CPUs as a function of power availability, processing requirements, system activity and status of an on/off button.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A provides a system and method for managing power in a portable, pen-based notebook computer. The system and method provides a means for minimizing power consumption by collecting and interpreting power related data of various processing elements while hiding many of the details from the end-user. The system monitors, collects, and acts, upon power-related data in a portable computer to maximize the amount of time the portable computer can be used between battery re-charging with minimal user intervention. The system has a plurality of independently controllable power planes and a plurality of central processing units (CPUs) operating asynchronously with respect to each other. The present invention is further comprised of an on/off glue logic means for monitoring battery condition, user invoked functions, and system state and a power management means for controlling the operation of each of the CPUs as a function of the conditions sensed by a sensing means.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring, collecting and acting upon power-related data in a portable computer to maximize an amount of time the portable computer can be used between the recharging of a battery with minimal user intervention, the portable computer having a user interface and a perceived state of operation, the system comprising:
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a plurality of independently controllable power planes a plurality of central processing units (CPUs), coupled to said plurality of independently controllable power planes, operating asynchronously with respect to each other to selectively control application of power to said plurality of independently controllable power planes, each of said plurality of CPUs performing power management functions, said plurality of CPUs including; a main processor having a first set of multiple operational states, said main processor controlling said plurality of independently controllable power planes, whereby a present state of said main processor determines the perceived state of operation of the portable computer, a service processor, coupled to said main processor, having a second set of multiple operational states, said service processor configured to manage peripheral devices, and a battery microcontroller configured to manage power input from one or more power sources coupled to the portable computer, said power sources including a battery having a temperature and a voltage, said battery microcontroller comprising a battery processor having a third set of multiple operational states; and power management means for controlling the operation of each of said plurality of CPUs as a function of power availability, processing requirements, system activity and status of an on/off button. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification