Method and apparatus for power management in an electronic device
First Claim
1. A method of power management in an electronic device having a supervisor circuit for disabling all or a portion of functions of said device if a first level of power to said device falls below a predefined threshold, said method comprising:
- receiving a request for a function and a related function to be performed by said electronic device;
measuring a second level of power to said device;
performing a pre-function test;
said pre-function test based on said function and selected to consume fewer power resources than said function and also selected to not cause said second level of power to fall below said predefined threshold;
measuring a third level of power to said device as a consequence of performing said pre-function test; and
,when a difference between said second level of power and said third level of power meets a predefined criterion, preventing said device from performing said function, measuring a fourth level of power to said device and after measuring said fourth level of power, determining whether other adjustments can be made to allow said device to perform said related function;
when said determination is affirmative, making at least one of said other adjustments and permitting said device to perform said related function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device and method for power management in an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the electronic device includes the functionality of a personal digital assistant, wireless email paging and a camera with a flash that is operated via self-contained power supply in the form of a battery. The device also includes a supervisor circuit which causes the device to enter sleep mode, or disables the device or certain features of the device, if the battery level falls below a certain threshold. A method in accordance with an embodiment performs, in response to a request to fire the flash, a pre-flash test which is selected so as to not trip the supervisor circuit. The battery level is examined after the pre-flash test. If the battery level meets certain criteria, the full flash is permitted to proceed, else the full flash is not permitted to proceed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of power management in an electronic device having a supervisor circuit for disabling all or a portion of functions of said device if a first level of power to said device falls below a predefined threshold, said method comprising:
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receiving a request for a function and a related function to be performed by said electronic device; measuring a second level of power to said device; performing a pre-function test;
said pre-function test based on said function and selected to consume fewer power resources than said function and also selected to not cause said second level of power to fall below said predefined threshold;measuring a third level of power to said device as a consequence of performing said pre-function test; and
,when a difference between said second level of power and said third level of power meets a predefined criterion, preventing said device from performing said function, measuring a fourth level of power to said device and after measuring said fourth level of power, determining whether other adjustments can be made to allow said device to perform said related function; when said determination is affirmative, making at least one of said other adjustments and permitting said device to perform said related function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device comprising:
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a power supply; a supervisor circuit connected to said power supply for disabling all or a portion of functions of said electronic device if a first level of power from said power supply falls below a predefined threshold; a processor connected to said power supply and said supervisor circuit; said processor configured to receive a request via an input device for a function and a related function to be performed by said electronic device; an output device connected to said power supply, said processor, and said supervisor circuit, said output device configured to perform said function; said processor configured to measure a second level of power from said power supply and then perform a pre-function test;
said pre-function test based on said function and selected to consume fewer power resources than said function and also selected to not cause said second level of power to fall below said predefined threshold;said processor further configured to measure a third level of power from said power supply as a consequence of performing said pre-function test; said processor further configured to, when a difference between said second level of power and said third level of power meets a predefined criterion, prevent said device from performing said function, to measure a fourth level of power from said power supply and after measuring said fourth level of power, to determine whether other adjustments can be made to allow said electronic device to perform said related function; and
,said processor further configured to, when said determination is affirmative, make at least one of said other adjustments and permit said electronic device to perform said related function. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification