Method and apparatus for managing power consumption on a bus

• US 6,901,525 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Iomega Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Shelton, Todd R., Baker, William P., Smith, Theodore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/866,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• 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

An information storage device (10) includes a cartridge (14) removably inserted into a cradle (13) that has a drive module (18) releasably coupled to an interface module (17). The interface module can be operatively coupled by a cable (12) to a remote system. Communications through the cable conform to an industry-standard protocol. The storage device can receive power from either the cable or an external power source (31). The interface module can detect a change in the source of its operating power during normal system operation, and ensure that this is reported through the cable.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

a first coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a bus that includes a power line;

a second coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a source of power;

circuitry coupled to each of said first and second coupling sections, said circuitry operating in a first mode in which said circuitry draws operating power from the power line through said first coupling section when no power is being received through said second coupling section, operating in a second mode in which said circuitry draws power through said second coupling section when a power source is supplying power to said second coupling section, automatically determining which of said first and second modes said circuitry is operating in, and automatically reporting through said first coupling section which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in;

wherein said circuitry automatically switches from said first mode to said second mode when a power supply begins supplying power through said second coupling section during operation of said circuitry in said first mode, and automatically reports through said first coupling section that said circuitry is now operation in said second mode; and

wherein said circuitry includes a processor which monitors whether power from a power supply is present at said second coupling section, and which causes a reset of said bus upon detecting that a power supply has just started supplying power through said second coupling section.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bus conforms to the IEEE 1394 protocol.

3. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

a first coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a bus that includes a power line;

a second coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a source of power;

circuitry coupled to each of said first and second coupling sections, said circuitry operating in a first mode in which said circuitry draws operating power from the power line through said first coupling section when no power is being received through said second coupling section, operating in a second mode in which said circuitry draws power through said second coupling section when a power source is supplying power to said second coupling section, automatically determining which of said first and second modes said circuitry is operating in, and automatically reporting through said first coupling section which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in;

wherein said circuitry automatically switches from said second mode to said first mode when a power supply stops supplying power through said second coupling section during operation of said circuitry in said second mode, and automatically reports through said first coupling section that said circuitry is now operating in said first mode; and

wherein said circuitry includes a processor which monitors whether power from a power supply is present at said second coupling section, and which causes a reset of said bus upon detecting that a power supply has just stopped supplying power through said second coupling section.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bus conforms to the IEEE 1394 protocol.

5. A method of operating a device having a first coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a bus that includes a power line, having a second coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a source of power, and circuitry coupled to each of said first and second coupling sections, comprising the steps of;

operating said circuitry in a selected one of a plurality of modes, including a first mode in which said circuitry draws operating power from the power line through said first coupling section when no power is being received through said second coupling section, and a second mode in which said circuitry draws power through said second coupling section when a power source is supplying power to said second coupling section;

automatically determining which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in;

automatically reporting through said first coupling section which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in,

automatically switching from said first mode to said second mode when a power supply begins supplying power through said second coupling section during operation in said first mode;

automatically reporting through said first coupling section that operation is now occurring in said second mode; and

monitoring whether power from a power supply is present at said second coupling section, and forcing a reset of said bus upon detecting that a power supply has just started supplying power through said second coupling section.

6. The method according to claim 5, including the step of configuring said bus to conform to the IEEE 1394 protocol.

7. A method of operating a device having a first coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a bus that includes a power line, having a second coupling section which can detachably couple said device to a source of power, and circuitry coupled to each of said first and second coupling sections, comprising the steps of;

operating said circuitry in a selected one of a plurality of modes, including a first mode in which said circuitry draws operating power from the power line through said first coupling section when no power is being received through said second coupling section, and a second mode in which said circuitry draws power through said second coupling section when a power source is supplying power to said second coupling section;

automatically determining which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in;

automatically reporting through said first coupling section which of said first and second modes said circuitry is currently operating in;

automatically switching from said second mode to said first mode when a power supply stops supplying power through said second coupling section during operation of said circuitry in said second mode;

automatically reporting through said first coupling section that that operation is now occurring in said first mode; and

monitoring whether power from a power supply is present at said second coupling section, and forcing a reset of said bus upon detecting that a power supply has just stopped supplying power to said second coupling section.

8. The method according to claim 7, including the step of configuring said bus to conform to the IEEE 1394 protocol.