Patent EP0496536A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0496536A2
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EP
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Battery operated computer power management system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-01-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A computer has two processors. A main processor operates under the control of an operating system and provides overall control of the computer for executing application programs. The main processor also assists in power management by executing certain interrupts and controlling a power control register to turn power on and off to various devices. A power management processor monitors ambient temperature and humidity, and battery conditions, and generates interrupts as a result of predetermined changes. Such processor also controls charging of the battery. Logic means are responsive to predetermined conditions to also generate interrupts.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis James Canova
- 👤 Neil Alan Katz
- 👤 Richard Francis Pollitt
- 👤 Leopoldo Lino Suarez
- 👤 Shaun Astarabadi
- 👤 C. William Frank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1637; G06F1/1647; G06F1/165; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1677; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A battery operated computer 10 having a main processor 12 for executing application programs under the control of an operating system, the computer comprising: monitoring means including a power management processor 30 for monitoring predetermined conditions including battery conditions and generating interrupt requests upon the occurrence of predetermined first conditions; logic means 96 responsive to signals indicative of predetermined second conditions for generating interrupt requests in response thereto; a plurality of interrupt handlers stored in said computer; interrupt means including an interrupt controller 100 for transmitting interrupt requests to said main processor 12 in response to said interrupt requests from said power management processor and said logic means; and a power control register 108 for controlling the distribution of power in said computer; said main processor 12 being operable in response to said interrupt requests from said interrupt means to selectively execute said interrupt handlers and set said power control register in accordance therewith to thereby control power distribution in said computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the power management processor is arranged to monitor a fully discharged battery, over/under ambient temperature, and/or excessive ambient humidity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein: the logic means 96 is responsive to signals indicative of a closed/open computer lid, a system voltage level, a time of day alarm, and/or a modem ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A computer in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein; said power management processor is arranged to generate an interrupt request signal LOW BATTERY when battery energy level reaches a fully discharged condition; said interrupt means being responsive to said LOW BATTERY signal to generate a suspend interrupt; and said interrupt handlers include a suspend interrupt handler operable upon execution to power down said computer into a suspended state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer in accordance with claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 comprising: a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) main memory 22 and a standby battery for powering said DRAM.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer in accordance with any one of the preceding claims comprising: second monitoring means for monitoring system voltage and in response to said system voltage reaching a predetermined level as a result of connecting a charged battery to said computer, generating an interrupt causing said computer to be repowered and normal operation to be resumed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A computer in accordance with any one of the preceding claims comprising: a selectively actuated internal battery charger 50 connectable to a main battery; means for connecting said computer to an ac power source; said power management processor being operable when said computer is connected to said ac power source to monitor the main battery and turn on said charger when said main battery is below a fully charged level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer in accordance with claim 7 comprising: means operable when said main battery becomes discharged to provide visual and sound indications indicative of such condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer in accordance with any one of the preceding claims comprising: a clock speed controller selectively settable to operate said main processor at a plurality of predetermined rates; and speed control means operable when said computer is running at a high rate to reduce said speed to a lower rate in response to inactivity of predetermined components in said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer in accordance with claim 9 comprising: a keyboard connected to said power management processor; said power management processor being operable to monitor keyboard activity and actuate said speed control means to reduce said speed after a predetermined period of keyboard inactivity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer in accordance with claim 9 or 10 comprising: a non-volatile storage for storing a user selectable performance objective for producing either high performance or long battery life; said speed control means being responsive to said performance objective to control said speed in accordance with such objective.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer in accordance with claim 11 comprising: a switch selectively settable to a manual position and to an automatic position; said speed control means being operable to operate said main processor at one of a plurality of predetermined speeds when said switch is in said manual position, said speed control means being operable to operate said processor in accordance with said performance objective when said switch is in said automatic position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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