Power management system for a computer

• US 5,884,087 A
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc., Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Smith Corona/Acer
• Inventors: Chen, James, White, Dave, Barbieri, Ray, Lee, Yen Wei, Ang, Rod, Lee, Suh Chiueh
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US08/826,613
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750.02, 395/750.01, 395/750.03, 395/750.05, 364/707
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A power management system for a personal computer comprises a power management processor, a switchable power supply and a keep alive power supply. The processor is powered by the keep alive power supply that continuously provides power. The computer is powered by a power supply that is switchable in response to a control signal. The processor preferably controls the switchable power supply. The processor is coupled to receive external device interrupts from a plurality of external devices that instruct the processor when to turn the switchable power supply on and off. The processor is also coupled to the computer through an interface. The power management system also includes a method for turning the computer on and off. A preferred method uses the processor to control the power provided to the computer. The preferred method also uses the processor to dictate whether the computer will to perform a long boot that brings the computer to an operational state, identifies the computer'"'"'s configuration, and tests memory, or a short boot that brings the computer to an operational state in a much shorter time. A preferred method for turning the computer off includes the ability to exit program being run by the computer, and saving the hardware state of the computer on the hard disk.

Claims

1. A method for turning off power provided to a first computer from a power source, the first computer being capable of performing a plurality of operations, including a save state operation, the method comprising:

sending a signal to the first computer upon receipt of an external device interrupt;

performing the save state operation with the first computer in response to the sending of the signal;

sending tasks from the first computer to a second computer, wherein the tasks include a plurality of operations in accordance with a stored code;

switching off the power source while maintaining power for the second computer; and

performing the tasks using the second computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the save state operation includes performing, while the first computer is running a program, the following:

exiting, by the first computer, the program that the first computer is running;

storing, by the first computer a first state of a computer hardware to a non-volatile media; and

storing, by the first computer, a second state of a memory to a non-volatile media.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the external device interrupt is provided by a switch.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first computer includes an Intel architecture based processor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the external device interrupt is provided by the first computer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the external device interrupt is provided by a real time keeper.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of switching off the power source includes the step of putting the first computer into a sleep mode to permit the first computer to be booted in less than about four rings on a telephone line.