Power control system and method for distribution of power to peripheral devices

• US 6,526,516 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tajika, Hiroshi, Takahashi, Kenji, Ishikawa, Hisashi, Konno, Yuji, Kawatoko, Norihiro, Inoue, Hiroo, Fujita, Miyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Raymond N
• Application Number:
  US09/210,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 713/310, 713/320, 713/323, 713/328, 713/330, 713/240, 710/62-64, 710/72-74
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

In a system to which a plurality of devices are connected, each device has heretofore required a connector for an AC adapter and a connector for a signal line. Further, in order to arrange it so that the amount of power supplied to the overall system will not exceed a limit value, it has been required to adjust the amount of power during system use by turning the power source of each device on or off. According to the present invention, a signal line for data transfer and a power line for supply of power in a system connecting a plurality of devices are consolidated in a single cable to make it possible to connect both lines to one connector of each device. The power controller of a certain device acquires the properties of a plurality of devices connected to this device, decides the optimum power distribution and controls the power controllers of each of the other devices.

Claims

1. A power control system, comprising:

device connecting unit for connecting a plurality of devices for transferring data and supplying power between said connected plurality of devices;

distribution deciding unit for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon power information in each device when power consumption exceeds a predetermined level while a connection status is unchanged; and

mode control unit for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power source is an AC external power source.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein sum total of power distributed to each of said devices is less than a predetermined value.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power consumption mode includes a mode in which the power source of the device is turned off.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides distribution of power based upon a degree of priority set for each device in advance.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the degree of priority is set for every power consumption mode of each device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides a distribution of power so as to maximize the number of devices that operate.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when the device is connected to said power source line.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when power is introduced to the device, which has been connected to said power source line.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mode controller changes the power consumption modes of said plurality of devices all at one time.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising first multiplexer for multiplexing the power information onto said power source line;

said distribution deciding unit deciding distribution of power to each device based upon the power information multiplexed by said first multiplexer.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein in a case where a power consumption mode is changed so as to reduce power consumption in any device of said plurality of devices, said mode controller changes the power consumption mode only of said device.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a second multiplexer for multiplexing a power control signal, which is based upon the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit, onto said power source line;

said mode controller having unit for controlling the power consumption mode of each device based upon the power control signal.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said first multiplexer multiplexes a change request, which is for requesting a change of power consumption mode, onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding unit decides distribution of power to each device based upon the change request.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said first multiplexer multiplexes change schedule information, which is for scheduling a change of power information, onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding unit and said mode controller schedule distribution of power to each device and control of the power consumption of each device based upon the change schedule information.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said first multiplexer monitors power consumption of each device at prescribed time intervals and multiplexes results of monitoring onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding unit decides distribution of power to each device based upon the results of monitoring.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein in a case where power consumption of each device has changed by more than a predetermined amount, said first multiplexer multiplexes power consumption information indicative of the changed power consumption onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding unit decides distribution of power to each device based upon this power consumption information.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said power source line comprises a plurality of channels;

said distribution deciding unit decides, on a per-channel basis, distribution of power to each connected device; and

said mode controller controls the power consumption mode of each device on a per-channel basis in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power source line comprises a plurality of channels;

said distribution deciding unit decides, on a per-channel basis, distribution of power to each connected device; and

said mode controller controls the power consumption mode of each device on a per-channel basis in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit.

20. A power control system, comprising:

device connecting means for serially connecting a plurality of devices for transferring data and supplying power between said connected plurality of devices;

distribution deciding means for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon power information in each device;

mode control means for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means; and

first multiplexing means for multiplexing the power information onto said power source line;

wherein said distribution deciding means deciding distribution of power to each device based upon the power information multiplexed by said first multiplexing means.

21. The system according to claim 20, further comprising second multiplexing means for multiplexing a power control signal, which is based upon the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means, onto said power source line;

said mode control means having means for controlling the power consumption mode of each device based upon the power control signal.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first multiplexing means multiplexes a change request, which is for requesting a change of power consumption mode, onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding means decides distribution of power to each device based upon the change request.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first multiplexing means multiplexes change schedule information, which is for scheduling a change of power information, onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding means and said mode control means schedule distribution of power to each device and control of the power consumption of each device based upon the change schedule information.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first multiplexing means monitors power consumption of each device at prescribed time intervals and multiplexes results of monitoring onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding means decides distribution of power to each device based upon the results of monitoring.

25. The system according to claim 20, wherein in a case where power consumption of each device has changed by more than a predetermined amount, said first multiplexing means multiplexes power consumption information indicative of the changed power consumption onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding means decides distribution of power to each device based upon this power consumption information.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined amount is decided in dependence upon power consumption of each device.

27. A power control system, comprising:

device connecting means for serially connecting a plurality of devices for transferring data and supplying power between said connected plurality of devices;

distribution deciding means for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon power information in each device; and

mode control means for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means;

wherein said power source line comprises a plurality of channels;

said distribution deciding means decides, on a per-channel basis, distribution of power to each connected device; and

said mode control means controls the power consumption mode of each device on a per-channel basis in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means.

28. A power control system for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising:

first multiplexing means for multiplexing current drain information in said plurality of devices onto said power source line;

distribution deciding means for deciding distribution of current to each device based upon the current drain information multiplexed by said first multiplexing means;

second multiplexing means for multiplexing a current control signal, which is based upon the distribution of current decided by said distribution deciding means, onto said power source line; and

current control means for controlling current supplied, to each device, based upon the current control signal multiplexed by said second multiplexing means.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein in a case where current drain of each device has changed by more than a predetermined amount, said first multiplexing means multiplexes current drain information indicative of the changed current drain onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding means decides distribution of current to each device based upon this current drain information.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined amount is decided in dependence upon current drain of each device.

31. The system according to claim 28, wherein said power source line comprises a plurality of channels;

said distribution deciding means decides, on a per-channel basis, distribution of current to each connected device; and

said current control means controls the current, supplied to each device, on a per-channel basis in accordance with the distribution of current decided by said distribution deciding means.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said distribution deciding means judges status of connection of devices in each channel based upon the current drain of each channel.

33. The system according to claim 28, wherein said plurality of devices include an adapter capable of connecting another device that is incompatible with this power control system.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said adapter has notification means for giving notification of presently prevailing conditions under which power is being supplied.

35. A power control method for supplying power, comprising the steps of:

connecting a plurality of devices for transferring data and supplying power between said connected plurality of devices;

deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon power information in each device when power consumption exceeds a predetermined level while a connection status is unchanged; and

controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power that has been decided.

36. A power control method for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing current drain information in said plurality of devices onto said power source line;

deciding distribution of current to each device based upon the current drain information that has been multiplexed;

multiplexing a current control signal, which is based upon the distribution of current that has been decided, onto said power source line; and

controlling current supplied, to each device, based upon the current control signal that has been multiplexed.

37. A recording medium on which has been recorded program code for power control processing, said program code comprising:

code for deciding distribution of power to each of a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line based upon power information in each device when power consumption exceeds a predetermined level while a connection status is unchanged; and

code for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power that has been decided.

38. A recording medium on which has been recorded program code for power control processing for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, said program code comprising:

code for multiplexing current drain information in said plurality of devices onto said power source line;

code for deciding distribution of current to each device based upon the current drain information that has been multiplexed;

code for multiplexing a current control signal, which is based upon the distribution of current that has been decided, onto said power source line; and

code for controlling current supplied, to each device, based upon the current control signal that has been multiplexed.

39. A power control system to which a plurality of devices are connected by connecting means for transferring data and supplying power, comprising:

power-source connecting means for connecting a prescribed device among the plurality of devices to a power source;

multiplexing means for multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting means;

distribution deciding means for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the power information multiplexed by said multiplexing means; and

power control means for supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting means, in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said distribution deciding means decides the distribution of power to each device when the device is connected to said power source line.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein said distribution deciding means decides the distribution of power to each device when power is introduced to the device, which has been connected to said power source line.

42. A power control system for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising:

first multiplexing means for multiplexing power information in each device onto said power source line;

distribution deciding means for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the power information multiplexed by said first multiplexing means; and

mode control means for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means.

43. The system according to claim 42, further comprising second multiplexing means for multiplexing a power control signal, which is based upon the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding means, onto said power source line;

said mode control means having means for controlling the power consumption mode of each device based upon the power control signal.

44. The system according to claim 42, wherein said distribution deciding means decides the distribution of power to each device when the device is connected to said power source line.

45. The system according to claim 42, wherein said distribution deciding means decides the distribution of power to each device when power is introduced to the device, which has been connected to said power source line.

46. A power control method in a system to which a plurality of devices are connected by connecting means for transferring data and supplying power, comprising:

supplying power to a prescribed device among the plurality of devices;

multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting means;

deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information in each device; and

supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting means, in accordance with the decided distribution of power.

47. A recording medium on which has been recorded program code for power processing in a system to which a plurality of devices are connected by connecting means for transferring data and supplying power, said program code comprising:

code for supplying power to a prescribed device among the plurality of devices;

code for multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting means;

code for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information in each device; and

code for supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting means, in accordance with the decided distribution of power.

48. A power control method for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising:

multiplexing power information in each device onto said power source line;

deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information; and

controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the decided distribution of power.

49. A recording medium on which has been recorded program code for power control processing for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, said program code comprising:

code for multiplexing power information in each device onto said power source line;

code for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information; and

code for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the decided distribution of power.

50. A power control system, comprising:

device connecting unit for connecting a plurality of devices for transferring data and supplying power between said connected plurality of devices;

distribution deciding unit for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon power information in each device when a predetermined signal is outputted by a software; and

mode controller for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit,

wherein said predetermined signal is outputted based upon the schedule of said software.

51. A power control system for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising:

first multiplexer for multiplexing current drain information in said plurality of devices onto said power source line;

distribution deciding unit for deciding distribution of current to each device based upon the current drain information multiplexed by said first multiplexer;

second multiplexer for multiplexing a current control signal, which is based upon the distribution of current decided by said distribution deciding unit, onto said power source line; and

current controller for controlling current supplied, to each device, based upon the current control signal multiplexed by said second multiplexer.

52. The system according to claim 51, wherein in a case where current drain of each device has changed by more than a predetermined amount, said first multiplexer multiplexes current drain information indicative of the changed current drain onto said power source line;

and

said distribution deciding unit decides distribution of current to each device based upon this current drain information.

53. The system according to claim 52, wherein the predetermined amount is decided in dependence upon current drain of each device.

54. The system according to claim 51, wherein said power source line comprises a plurality of channels;

said distribution deciding unit decides, on a per-channel basis, distribution of current to each connected device; and

said current controller controls the current, supplied to each device, on a per-channel basis in accordance with the distribution of current decided by said distribution deciding unit.

55. The system according to claim 54, wherein said distribution deciding unit judges status of connection of devices in each channel based upon the current drain of each channel.

56. The system according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of devices include an adapter capable of connecting another device that is incompatible with this power control system.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein said adapter has notification unit for giving notification of presently prevailing conditions under which power is being supplied.

58. A power control system to which a plurality of devices are connected by connecting unit for transferring data and supplying power, comprising:

power-source connecting unit for connecting a prescribed device among the plurality of devices to a power source;

multiplexer for multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting unit;

distribution deciding unit for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the power information multiplexed by said multiplexer; and

power controller for supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting unit, in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit.

59. The system according to claim 58, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when the device is connected to said power source line.

60. The system according to claim 58, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when power is introduced to the device, which has been connected to said power source line.

61. A power control system for supplying power to a plurality of devices interconnected on a power source line, comprising:

first multiplexer for multiplexing power information in each device onto said power source line;

distribution deciding unit for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the power information multiplexed by said first multiplexer; and

mode controller for controlling a power consumption mode of each device in accordance with the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit.

62. The system according to claim 61, further comprising a second multiplexer for multiplexing a power control signal, which is based upon the distribution of power decided by said distribution deciding unit, onto said power source line;

said mode controller having a unit for controlling the power consumption mode of each device based upon the power control signal.

63. The system according to claim 61, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when the device is connected to said power source line.

64. The system according to claim 61, wherein said distribution deciding unit decides the distribution of power to each device when power is introduced to the device, which has been connected to said power source line.

65. A power control method in a system to which a plurality of devices are connected by a connecting unit for transferring data and supplying power, comprising:

supplying power to a prescribed device among the plurality of devices;

multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting unit;

deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information in each device; and

supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting unit, in accordance with the decided distribution of power.

66. A recording medium on which has been recorded program code for power processing in a system to which a plurality of devices are connected by a connecting unit for transferring data and supplying power, said program code comprising:

code for supplying power to a prescribed device among the plurality of devices;

code for multiplexing power information in each device onto said connecting unit;

code for deciding distribution of power to each of said plurality of devices based upon the multiplexed power information in each device; and

code for supplying power from said prescribed device to the other devices, which are connected via the connecting unit, in accordance with the decided distribution of power.