Method for reducing power consumption in battery powered devices

• US 6,697,953 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Collins, William Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/713,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320, 713/322
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for dynamically invoking power saving options in a battery powered device, such as a cellular telephone, so that the period of use or run-time of the device is extended. The user settable power saving options alter operation of the device in a way that reduces power consumption and extends run-time. The power saving options define the ways by which power is saved, such as less intensity for a backlight or slower scanning for a wireless accessory, and when they are invoked, based in part on a determination of the estimated or measured actual capacity in the battery. For example when a battery is at full capacity, all features may be fully operable and as the battery discharges some of the features may be disabled or work with reduced performance.

Claims

1. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device, comprising:

determining a battery capacity;

determining a feature and a battery capacity threshold; and

adjusting operation of the device based on the feature, the battery capacity threshold, and the battery capacity.

2. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication of the feature.

3. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the battery powered device is a cellular telephone.

4. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the battery powered device is a cordless telephone.

5. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the feature comprises reducing the frequency of a function.

6. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 5, wherein reducing the frequency of a function comprises reducing the frequency of turning on an RF receiver.

7. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the feature comprises reducing the power of a function.

8. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 7, wherein reducing the power of a function comprises reducing the power of a transmitter.

9. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the feature comprises turning off a function.

10. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 9, wherein turning off a function comprises turning off a keypad backlight.

11. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 9, wherein turning off a function comprises turning off a display backlight.

12. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 1, wherein the feature comprises turning on a function.

13. A method for reducing power consumption in a battery powered device according to claim 12, wherein turning on a function comprises reducing the brightness of a display backlight.

14. A method of operation of a cellular telephone, comprising:

determining a battery capacity;

retrieving from a memory, a battery capacity threshold and a feature associated with the battery capacity threshold;

comparing the battery capacity threshold with the battery capacity; and

enabling the feature if the battery capacity threshold is greater than the battery capacity.

15. A method of operation of a cellular telephone, comprising:

determining a battery capacity;

retrieving from a memory, a battery capacity threshold and a feature associated with the battery capacity threshold;

comparing the battery capacity threshold with the battery capacity; and

enabling the feature if the battery capacity threshold is greater than the battery capacity and disabling the feature if the battery capacity threshold is not greater than the battery capacity.

16. A method of operation of a cellular telephone, comprising:

determining a battery capacity of a battery powering the cellular telephone;

retrieving from a memory an option, said option comprising a battery capacity threshold and a feature associated with the battery capacity threshold;

comparing the battery capacity threshold with the battery capacity; and

enabling the feature if the battery capacity threshold is greater than the battery capacity and disabling the feature if the battery capacity threshold is not greater than the battery capacity.

17. A method of operation of a cellular telephone according to claim 16, further comprising selecting the option to be retrieved from the memory.

18. A method of operation of a cellular telephone according to claim 16, further comprising:

retrieving from the memory a second battery capacity threshold and a second feature associated with the second battery capacity threshold;

comparing the second battery capacity threshold with the battery capacity; and

enabling the second feature if the second battery capacity threshold is greater than the battery capacity and disabling the second feature if the second battery capacity threshold is not greater than the battery capacity.

19. A device powered by an energy source, comprising:

means for determining a capacity of an energy source;

means for determining a feature, and a capacity threshold of the energy source; and

means for adjusting operation of the device based on the feature, the capacity threshold of the energy source, and the capacity of the energy source.

20. A device powered by an energy source according to claim 19, wherein the means for adjusting operation of the device comprises changing the power consumption of the device.

21. A device powered by an energy source according to claim 20, wherein changing the power consumption of the device comprises turning off a keypad backlight.

22. A device powered by an energy source according to claim 20, wherein changing the power consumption of the device comprises turning on a keypad backlight.

23. A battery powered device, comprising:

a battery for powering the device;

a feature and an associated battery capacity threshold; and

a controller for determining a battery capacity of the battery and for adjusting the power consumption of the device based on the battery capacity, the feature, and the battery capacity threshold.

24. A battery powered device according to claim 23, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the device comprises turning on a display backlight.

25. A battery powered device according to claim 23, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the device comprises turning off a display backlight.

26. A battery powered device, comprising:

a controller;

a memory, readable by the controller, for storing a battery capacity threshold;

a battery for powering the device;

means for measuring an actual capacity of the battery; and

means for adjusting power consumption of the device as a function of the battery capacity threshold and the actual capacity of the battery.

27. A battery powered device according to claim 26, wherein adjusting the power consumption of the device comprises adjusting an intensity of a display backlight.

28. A cellular telephone, comprising:

a controller;

a radio frequency transmitter with adjustable transmit power;

a memory, readable by the controller, for storing a battery capacity threshold;

a battery powering the cellular telephone;

means for measuring an actual capacity of the battery; and

means for adjusting the transmit power of the cellular telephone as a function of the battery capacity threshold and the actual capacity of the battery.

29. A cellular telephone according to claim 28, wherein the battery capacity threshold is a value of battery voltage and the actual capacity of the battery is a measured value of the voltage of the battery.

30. A cellular telephone according to claim 28, wherein the actual capacity of the battery is determined by a battery gas gauge.