Method for indicating power-consumption status
First Claim
1. A method of providing powered-down status information to a user of a computer system, comprising the steps of:
- determining a current one of a plurality of powered-down states;
selecting a corresponding one of a plurality of system status signals, including selecting a modulation rate corresponding with the current powered-down state, each of the selectable signal modulation rates corresponding one-to-one with a respective one of the powered-down states; and
providing the selected system status signal to the user by modulating the intensity of an optical signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improved indication of power-consumption status in a computer system is described. The computer system includes a light-emitting diode (LED) which produces an optical signal. The apparent intensity of the optical signal is controlled by a pulsed LED control signal having an adjustable duty cycle. By varying the duty cycle, the apparent intensity of the optical signal is varied. The rate at which the duty cycle is varied may be selected to produce an apparent intensity optical signal which varies continuously between a greatest and a least intensity. Also, the rate at which the duty cycle is varied may be selected from a plurality of rates, each corresponding with a one of a plurality of power-consumption states in which the computer system can operate.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of providing powered-down status information to a user of a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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determining a current one of a plurality of powered-down states; selecting a corresponding one of a plurality of system status signals, including selecting a modulation rate corresponding with the current powered-down state, each of the selectable signal modulation rates corresponding one-to-one with a respective one of the powered-down states; and providing the selected system status signal to the user by modulating the intensity of an optical signal.
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2. In a computer system operable in a plurality of power-consumption states, a method of providing power-consumption status information to a user of the computer system, comprising the steps of:
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determining a current power-consumption state; and if the current power consumption state is a powered-down state, producing an apparent intensity optical signal which periodically varies gradually between a greatest intensity and a least intensity, wherein the step of producing an apparent intensity optical signal which periodically varies gradually between a greatest intensity and a least intensity includes the steps of; selecting a duty cycle value; and applying a pulsed electric current having the selected duty cycle value to a light-emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a computer system operable in a plurality of power-consumption states, a method of controlling an optical signal produced by a light-emitting diode to provide power-consumption status information to a user of the computer system, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a duty cycle value; applying a pulsed electric current having the selected duty cycle value to the light-emitting diode; modifying the duty cycle value; and applying a pulsed electric current having the modified duty cycle value to the light-emitting diode; wherein the step of applying a pulsed electric current having the selected duty cycle value to the light-emitting diode is performed for a selected time interval prior to the step of modifying the duty cycle value. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In a computer system operable in a plurality of power-consumption states, a method of providing power-consumption status information to a user of the computer system, comprising:
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determining in which of the power-consumption states the computer system presently operates; selecting one of a plurality of signal modulation rates, the selected signal modulation rate corresponding with the present power-consumption state, and no two power-consumption states having the same signal modulation rate; and displaying an optical signal having an intensity that varies in accordance with the selected signal modulation rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. In a computer system operable in a plurality of power-consumption states, a method of providing power-consumption status information to a user of the computer system, comprising:
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determining in which of the power-consumption states the computer system operates; and producing one of a plurality of system status signals, each corresponding with a respective one of the power-consumption states, a first one of the system status signals being an optical signal having an apparent intensity that varies gradually between a greatest and a least intensity; wherein a second one of the system status signals is an optical signal having an apparent intensity that varies gradually between a greatest and a least intensity, the apparent intensity of the first and second system status signals varying at first and second rates, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. In a computer system operable in a plurality of power-consumption states, a method of controlling a light source to provide power-consumption status information to a user of the computer system, comprising:
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if the computer system operates in a first of the power-consumption states, then applying a control signal to the light source such that the apparent intensity of the light source varies at a first rate; and if the computer system operates in a second of the power-consumption states, then applying the control signal to the light source such that the apparent intensity of the light source varies at a second rate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification