Device and method for supplying power to computer peripheral equipment using the bus system of the computer

• US 6,782,491 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Langer, Thomas, Seidenberg, Stefan, Foedlmeier, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Application Number:
  US09/807,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 714/37, 714/38, 714/22, 714/15, 714/16, 714/47, 714/48, 714/44, 714/43, 714/41, 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 709/238
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

Apparatus and method for the power supply of auxiliary implements of computers via the bus system of the computer, wherein an energy store is provided within the auxiliary implements, which is supporting the power supply of the auxiliary implement and which by means of a suitable charge circuit is connected to the power supply in the bus system of the computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the power supply of auxiliary implements of computers via the bus system of the computer, in which there is provided an energy store in the auxiliary implement supporting the power supply of the auxiliary implement and which by a suitable charge circuit is connected with the power supply in the bus system of the computer, comprising a first switching device between the power supply in the bus system of the computer and the charge circuit;

a second switching device which is provided between the energy store and the power supply of the auxiliary implement with a third switching device being provided for directly connecting the power supply in the bus system of the computer with the power supply of the auxiliary implement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control of the first, the second and the third switching devices is performed by a power-management-system in the auxiliary implement.

3. A method for starting a computer being connected by an auxiliary implement and a bus system with an ISDN-system from a sleeping or resting state into an active operational state, wherein the procedure of start-up of the computer is triggered if after a call arriving on the ISDN-system has been determined to actually be meant for the computer by independent processing of a D-channel protocol of ISDN, and wherein the method comprises providing the auxiliary implement with an energy store supplying the energy for the processing of the D-channel protocol and which in the sleeping or resting state of the computer is recharged from the bus system with the very low current.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising recharging the energy store in the auxiliary implement during the active operational state of the computer with a stronger current from the bus system.

5. A method according to claim 3, further comprising directly supply the auxiliary implement with current from the bus system during the active operational state of the computer.