Power saving secondary processing unit for an electronic device

• US 8,607,085 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Resnick, Russell A., Locker, Howard, Davis, Mark C., Challener, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): REHMAN, MOHAMMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/341,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The instant invention broadly contemplates an energy saving subsystem comprising a secondary CPU that utilizes less power than a main CPU, thereby allowing an electronic device (e.g. a laptop PC) having the secondary CPU to use less power and run for longer periods of time on a limited power supply. Thus, the invention permits the electronic device to be utilized for extended periods and extends the battery life.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit card inserted into a base system as add-on, the central processing unit card comprising;

a secondary central processing unit; and

a secondary memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit;

wherein the secondary central processing unit is configured to execute a secondary operating system that operates the base system of the apparatus at a lower power level than a main central processing unit configured to execute a first operating system of the base system;

wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and secondary operating systems share inputs and outputs via input/output switching but do not share a memory.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a system memory of the base system is not accessible to the secondary central processing unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit card further comprises at least one of:

input/output switches;

input/output connectors;

a wireless controller; and

a wireless antenna connector.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit card is configured to execute the secondary operating system responsive to a pre-boot instruction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one connector that enables connection of additional wiring to couple the central processing unit card with the base system of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the secondary memory is only accessible to the secondary central processing unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base system comprises an optical drive.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery configured to power the apparatus;

wherein operating the base system of the apparatus at a lower power level increases a life of the battery.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit card is optimized for at least one base system function.

11. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a base system, the base system comprising;

a main central processing unit; and

a system memory accessible by the main central processing unit, the main central processing unit being configured to execute a first operating system; and

(b) a central processing unit card inserted into the base system as add-on, the central processing unit card comprising;

a secondary central processing unit; and

a secondary memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit, the secondary central processing unit being configured to execute a secondary operating system;

wherein the secondary operating system operates a base system of the apparatus at a lower power level than the first operating system;

wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first and secondary operating systems share inputs and outputs via input/output switching but do not share a memory.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the system memory is not accessible to the secondary central processing unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the central processing unit card further comprises at least one of:

input/output switches;

input/output connectors;

a wireless controller; and

a wireless antenna connector.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the secondary operating system of the central processing unit card is configured to execute the secondary operating system responsive to a pre-boot instruction.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

at least one connector that enables connection of additional wiring to couple the central processing unit card with the base system of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the secondary memory is only accessible to the secondary central processing unit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one component of the base system comprises an optical drive.

19. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a base system comprising;

a main central processing unit; and

a system memory accessible by the main central processing unit, the main central processing unit being configured to execute a first operating system; and

(b) a subsystem coupled with the base system;

the subsystem comprising;

a secondary central processing unit card inserted into the base system as add-on; and

a subsystem memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit card, the secondary central processing unit being configured to execute a secondary operating system;

wherein the subsystem is configured to selectively control the apparatus rather than the base system in response to a pre-boot instruction;

wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.