Patent US4981466A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0364222A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for reducing computer system power consumption
Assignee: Compaq Computer Corp
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Filing: 1989-10-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A battery powered computer system (C) monitors the address bus (20) to determine when selected peripheral devices have not been accessed for a preset amount of time. When the preset amount of time has passed the system powers itself down and stops the system clock, placing it in a standby mode. The system is awakened by depressing a standby switch, unless there is insufficient energy in the batteries, under which circumstances an AC power source must be connected before the system can be re-awakened.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Richard Carter
- 👤 Paul M. Garner
- 👤 Darren J. Cepulis
- 👤 Caroline A. Boone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/3237; G06F1/325; G11; G11B; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/06; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F11/0757; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/349; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for reducing the power consumption of a battery powered computer system (C), comprising: an address and data bus (20) for enabling communication of address and data information between components in the computer system; a plurality of peripheral devices (30,46,48,50) accessed over said address and data bus, each peripheral device being capable of being powered off; means (22) for accessing said peripheral devices by presenting addresses on said address and data bus; means (42) for analysing the addresses presented on said address and data bus by said accessing means to determine if one of said peripheral devices is being accessed and producing a signal indicative thereof; means (42) responsive to said analyzing means signal for timing the interval since any one of said peripheral devices has been accessed; and means (66,68,70) for powering off said peripheral devices when said interval exceeds a preset amount, to cause the computer system to enter a reduced power consumption state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for reducing the power consumption of a battery powered computer system (C), comprising: an address and data bus (20) for enabling communication of address and data information between components in the computer system; a plurality of peripheral devices (30,46,48,50) accessed over said address and data bus, each peripheral device being capable of being powered off; means (22) for accessing said peripheral devices by presenting addresses on said address and data bus; means (42) for analysing the addresses presented on said address and data bus by said accessing means to determine if one of said peripheral devices is being accessed and producing a signal indicative thereof; means (42) responsive to said analyzing means signal for timing the interval since any one of said peripheral devices has been accessed; and means (66,68,70) for powering off said peripheral devices when said interval exceeds a preset amount, to cause the computer system to enter a reduced power consumption state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for enabling power to a plurality of circuit devices; and means for disabling power to said plurality of circuit devices when said interval exceeds a preset amount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: system clock means (82) for providing a system clock to portions of the circuitry forming the computer system; and means (78) for disabling the system clock to the circuitry portions when said interval exceeds a preset amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: means (42) for disabling said powering off means when the computer system is powered from an alternating current electrical source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: means (58,268,270,272,274) for powering on said peripheral devices after they have been powered off by said powering off means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for powering on includes a switch (58) for activation by the user to indicate the desire to leave the reduced power consumption state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: means for disabling said means for powering on said peripheral devices when the remaining battery energy of the computer system is below a preset amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for disabling said powering off means when desired by the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for intially disabling said powering off means; ` means for allowing an operating system to take control of operations of the computer system; means for interrupting operation of the computer system after the operating system has taken control; and means responsive to said interrupt for enabling said powering off means when the controlling operating system allows response to said interrupt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: means (42) for reducing the preset amount of said interval when the remaining battery energy of the computer system is below a first given level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: means (42) for further reducing the preset amount of said interval when the remaining battery energy is below a second given level, said second given level being less than said first given level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: means (42) responsive to a signal from the user for reducing the preset amount of said interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means responsive to a command from the user for modifying the preset amount of said interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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