Dynamic power management in a portable media delivery system
First Claim
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1. A method for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, comprising:
- setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode; and
monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers by sensing, in real time, a voltage across a capacitor electrically coupled to the internal power supply, wherein the sensed voltage is directly related to the charge status of the internal power supply, when the charge status is less than a threshold value, then shutting down the media delivery system, otherwise, changing the maximum allowable SPL based upon the charge status of the internal power supply by reducing the maximum allowable SPL by a preset factor.
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Abstract
A consumer electronic product (e.g., a portable media player ported to a media delivery accessory) is powered by a limited capacity DC power source (such as a battery or mini-fuel cell). The consumer electronic product limits the maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) that can be produced by the speakers. In one embodiment, the maximum allowable SPL is based upon an amount of stored energy available in the limited capacity DC power source.
354 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, comprising:
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setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode; and monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers by sensing, in real time, a voltage across a capacitor electrically coupled to the internal power supply, wherein the sensed voltage is directly related to the charge status of the internal power supply, when the charge status is less than a threshold value, then shutting down the media delivery system, otherwise, changing the maximum allowable SPL based upon the charge status of the internal power supply by reducing the maximum allowable SPL by a preset factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A consumer electronic product operable in a DC mode and an AC mode, comprising:
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a portable media player arranged to playback a selected one of a plurality of media files stored therein; a media delivery accessory unit electrically coupled to the portable media player having at least one speaker, wherein when the consumer electronic product is operating in the DC mode, a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the at least one speaker is set to a DC maximum allowable SPL; and a charge monitor coupled to an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers arranged to monitor a charge status of internal power supply, wherein the charge monitor comprises a capacitor electrically coupled to the internal power supply capable of developing a capacitor voltage, and a capacitor voltage sensor arranged to sense, in real time, the capacitor voltage, wherein the sensed voltage is directly related to the charge status of the internal power supply, wherein when the charge status is less than a threshold value, then the media delivery accessory unit is shutdown, otherwise, the maximum allowable SPL is changed based upon the charge status of the internal power supply, wherein when the maximum allowable SPL is changed, the maximum allowable SPL is changed by reducing the maximum allowable SPL by a preset factor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, comprising:
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setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode to a DC maximum allowable SPL; monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers; setting the media delivery system to the AC mode by connecting to an external power supply that provides the power for the media delivery system; and setting the maximum allowable SPL to an AC limited maximum SPL that is greater than the DC maximum allowable SPL in all cases. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, comprising:
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setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode; monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers by sensing, in real time, a voltage across a capacitor electrically coupled to the internal power supply, wherein the sensed voltage is directly related to the charge status of the internal power supply, when the charge status is less than a threshold value, then shutting down the media delivery system, otherwise, changing the maximum allowable SPL based upon the charge status of the internal power supply by reducing the maximum allowable SPL by a preset factor and wherein if the voltage is a downward going voltage, determining if the downward going voltage crosses a threshold voltage level, when the downward going voltage crosses the threshold voltage level, then determining if a subsequent upward going voltage re-crosses the threshold voltage within a predetermined length of time; generating a shutdown signal used to shut down the media delivery system if the subsequent upward going voltage does not re-cross the threshold voltage level in the predetermined length of time; and providing a proportional clipping event signal that is proportional to an amount of time that the upward going voltage remains below the threshold voltage that is less than the predetermined length of time; and using the proportional clipping event signal to proportionally reduce the maximum allowable SPL. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A consumer electronic product operable in either a DC or an AC mode, comprising:
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one or more speakers arranged to output audio; and a processor coupled to the at least one speaker, wherein the processor manages power consumed by the consumer electronic product by; setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode to a DC maximum allowable SPL, monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers, setting the media delivery system to the AC mode by connecting to an external power supply that provides the power for the media delivery system, and setting the maximum allowable SPL to an AC limited maximum SPL that is greater than the DC maximum allowable SPL in all cases. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A consumer electronic product operable in a DC mode and an AC mode, comprising:
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a media delivery accessory unit having at least one speaker, wherein when the consumer electronic product is operating in the DC mode, a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the at least one speaker is set to a DC maximum allowable SPL; and a charge monitor coupled to an internal power supply that provides power to the at least one speaker arranged to monitor a charge status of internal power supply, wherein the limited maximum allowable (SPL) in the DC mode is a DC maximum allowable SPL, and wherein in the AC mode, the maximum allowable SPL is set to an AC limited maximum SPL that is greater than the DC maximum allowable SPL in all cases. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. Non-transitory computer readable medium for storing a computer program executable by a processor for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, the computer program comprising:
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computer code for setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode; computer code for monitoring a charge status of an internal power supply that provides power to the one or more speakers; computer code for shutting down the media delivery system, when the charge status is less than a threshold value; and computer code for changing the maximum allowable SPL based upon the charge status of the internal power supply, wherein the computer code for changing the maximum allowable SPL comprises computer code for reducing the maximum allowable SPL by a preset factor, and wherein the computer code for monitoring comprises computer code for sensing, in real time, a voltage across a capacitor electrically coupled to the internal power supply, wherein the sensed voltage is directly related to the charge status of the internal power supply. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. Non transitory computer readable medium for storing a computer program executable by a processor for managing power in a media delivery system operable in either a DC or an AC mode arranged to output audio by way of one or more speakers, the computer program comprising:
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computer code for setting a maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) of an output audio signal produced by the one or more speakers when the media delivery system is operating in the DC mode, wherein the limited maximum allowable (SPL) in the DC mode is a DC maximum allowable SPL; computer code for setting the media delivery system to the AC mode by connecting to an external power supply that provides the power for the media delivery system; and computer code for setting the maximum allowable SPL to an AC limited maximum SPL that is greater than the DC maximum allowable SPL in all cases. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification