Method for lowering power consumption in a computing device

• US 5,790,875 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pitkanen, Mika, Andersin, Kari, Antila, Mika Juhani, Toivanen, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US08/939,961
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 364/707, 395/750.01, 395/750.08
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The method relates to minimizing power consumption in a computing device, which executes the requested tasks in a high power mode, in which it has normal processing power and, correspondingly, normal power consumption, and which, after it has executed the requested tasks, is switched to a low power mode, in which it has limited processing power and, correspondingly, a considerably lower power consumption. In the method of the invention, the power consumption of a computing device is decreased by lengthening the time during which the device remains in the low power mode in such a way that the device is not switched to a high power mode immediately when the user starts the input, but the switching is delayed. The switching to the low power mode can be done on the basis of a sign included in the input, after a certain time (set or programmable) has passed since the input began, when a specified time has passed since the input stopped, or when a certain amount of information has been received after the input began. The means for the user input may preferably comprise a touch screen and a pen means.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing power consumption in a computing device, which comprises a processor for executing tasks, a memory coupled to the processor, a display and corresponding display controller, and an information input device and corresponding input device controller, the processor being capable of being placed in either one of a reduced power mode of operation or a normal power mode of operation, comprising the steps of:

setting at least one criterion in the computing device for controlling the switching of the processor to the normal power mode of operation;

detecting an occurrence of information input to the input device;

only when the processor is in the reduced power mode of operation, transmitting the inputted information in an unprocessed state from the input device controller to the display and to the memory for storage;

detecting a fulfillment of the at least one criterion based on the information input;

in response to detecting the fulfillment of the at least one criterion, switching the processor from the reduced power mode of operation to the normal power mode of operation; and

transmitting the unprocessed input information from the memory to the processor for performing any required processing.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion is comprised of a predetermined sign that is included in the input information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the input device is comprised of a pen means which is used in connection with the display, and wherein the predetermined sign included in the input information is produced by touching a predetermined location on the display with the pen means.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the input device is comprised of a pen means which is used in connection with the display, and wherein the predetermined sign included in the input information is produced by a specific stroke drawn on the display using the pen means.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the input information includes speech input, and wherein the predetermined sign included in the input information is produced by speech.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion is comprised of a predetermined amount of time that begins with a time that the input information is first input to the input device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the predetermined amount of time is programmable.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion is comprised of a predetermined amount of time that occurs after the information is first input to the input device, and during which no further information is input to the input device.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the predetermined amount of time is programmable.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion is comprised of a predetermined amount of input information.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the predetermined amount of input information is programmable.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the input device is comprised of a pen means which is used in connection with the display, and wherein a start of information input is indicated, when the processor is in the reduced power mode of operation, by detecting a touch of the pen means to the display.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein a first touch of the pen means to the display is monitored and, after the first touch of the pen means to the display is detected, a position of the pen means on the display is monitored.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a processor for executing tasks, the processor being capable of being placed in either one of a reduced power mode of operation or a normal power mode of operation;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a display and corresponding display controller;

an information input device and corresponding input device controller;

means, in said input device controller, for detecting an occurrence of information input to the input device and for transmitting the inputted information in an unprocessed state from the input device controller to the display and to the memory for storage, said means for detecting and transmitting operating only when the processor is in the reduced power mode of operation;

means for detecting, based on the information input, a fulfillment of at least one predetermined criterion, the at least one predetermined criterion being selected for controlling the switching of the processor to the normal power mode of operation; and

means, responsive to detecting the fulfillment of the at least one criterion, for switching the processor from the reduced power mode of operation to the normal power mode of operation such that the unprocessed input information is transferred from the memory to the processor for performing any required processing.

15. A computing device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said input device is comprised of a touch screen for providing an output signal that is a function of a location where the touch screen is contacted.

16. A computing device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the output signal is an analog signal, and further comprising an A/D-converter for converting the analog signal into a digital signal.

17. A computing device in accordance with claim 15, and further comprising means for providing a reference signal and a comparator for comparing the reference signal to the output signal, said comparator outputting a comparison signal that is a function of a difference between the reference signal and the output signal.

18. A computing device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the comparator is a digital comparator.

19. A computing device in accordance with claim 17, and further comprising means for measuring a location where the touch screen is touched, said measuring means being activated by the comparison signal output signal from the comparator.

20. A computing device in accordance with claim 17, wherein said switching means is activated by the comparison signal that is output from the comparator.

21. A computing device, comprising:

a processor for executing tasks, the processor being capable of being placed in either one of a reduced power mode of operation or a normal power mode of operation;

an information input device and corresponding input dev ice controller, said information input device comprising a touch sensitive display and corresponding display controller;

a common memory coupled both to the processor and to the input device controller;

means, in said input device controller, for detecting an occurrence of information input to the input device and for transmitting the inputted information in an unprocessed state to the touch sensitive display and to the memory for storage, said means for detecting and transmitting operating only when the processor is in the reduced power mode of operation;

means, coupled to the touch sensitive display, for detecting a fulfillment of at least one predetermined criterion based on the touch screen display being touched; and

means, responsive to detecting the fulfillment of the at least one criterion, for switching the processor from the reduced power mode of operation to the normal power mode of operation such that the unprocessed input information is transferred from the memory to the processor for processing.