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Apparatus for reducing computer system power consumption

  • US 4,980,836 A
  • Filed: 10/14/1988
  • Issued: 12/25/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1988
  • Status: Expired
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use with a battery powered computer system for reducing power consumption of the battery powered computer system, the computer system including various circuitry, portions of which is clocked, the apparatus comprising:

  • an address and data bus for communicating address and data information in the computer system;

    a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to said address and data bus, said peripheral devices being accessed over said address and data bus by use of address values associated with each said peripheral device, each said peripheral device capable of being powered off;

    means coupled to said address and data bus for accessing said peripheral devices by presenting address values associated with said particular peripheral device on said address and data bus;

    means coupled to said address and data bus for analyzing the address values presented on said address bus by said means for accessing to determine if one of said peripheral devices is being accessed and producing a signal indicative thereof;

    means coupled to said address value analyzing means and responsive to said address value analyzing means signal for timing an interval since any one of said peripheral devices has been accessed by said accessing means; and

    means coupled to said timing means and said peripheral devices for powering off said peripheral devices when said interval exceeds a present amount to enter a reduced power consumption state.

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