US5666541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reducing power usage in a personal computer
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1996-10-15
•
Granted: 1997-09-09
•
Expires: 2016-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Power usage in a personal computer is reduced by repetitively performing the following sequence of steps: a. generate a wake-up signal in connection with a user beginning to interact with the computer; b. in response to the wake-up signal, switch at least a portion of the computer into a more fully powered mode; and c. keep the portion of the computer in the more fully powered mode only as long as the user is delivering input to the computer, and thereafter immediately switch the portion of the computer into a less fully powered mode. A detector issues a wake-up signal when a user begins to interact with the computer; and control circuitry connected to the sensor switches between the more fully powered mode and the less fully powered mode. The sensor may be mounted in a keyboard that includes an array of keys, and a sensor mounted in a position to detect use of the keyboard even when the keyboard is in an unpowered state.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A. Sellers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3259; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for reducing power usage in a personal computer, comprising: control circuitry connected to reduce power delivery to a component of the computer based on a period of time required for the component to return to a fully operational state from a less fully powered mode; and a person sensing device which issues a wake-up signal to the control circuitry when a user begins interacting with the computer, the control circuitry responding to the wake-up signal by switching the component to a more fully powered mode only as long as the user is interacting with the computer, and thereafter switching the component to the less fully powered mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for reducing power usage in a personal computer, comprising: control circuitry connected to reduce power delivery to a component of the computer based on a period of time required for the component to return to a fully operational state from a less fully powered mode; and a person sensing device which issues a wake-up signal to the control circuitry when a user begins interacting with the computer, the control circuitry responding to the wake-up signal by switching the component to a more fully powered mode only as long as the user is interacting with the computer, and thereafter switching the component to the less fully powered mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a sensor mounted on the computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a sound sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a temperature sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a strain sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a piezoelectric sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device is mounted in a keyboard of the computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sensor is mounted in a position near one of the keys of the keyboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the person sensing device comprises a light sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the less fully powered mode comprises a zero powered mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a peripheral controller in the form of an ASIC, a system controller in the form of an ASIC, a keyboard control circuit, a discrete logic component, a passive discrete component, and combinations thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a first component requiring a period of time to return to a fully operational state and a second component which returns to a fully operational state almost immediately.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first component comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a monitor, and a disk drive motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second component comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a peripheral controller in the form of an ASIC, a system controller in the form of an ASIC, a keyboard control circuit, a discrete logic component, and a passive discrete logic component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the less fully powered mode comprises zero power delivery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
A computer system, comprising: a person sensing device which issues a wake-up signal when a user begins interacting with the computer; control circuitry which is connected to the person sensing device and reduces power delivery to a component of the computer based on a period of time required for the component to return to a fully operational state from a less fully powered mode; and a microprocessor which is connected to the control circuitry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A computer system, comprising: a person sensing device which issues a wake-up signal when a user begins interacting with the computer; control circuitry which is connected to the person sensing device and reduces power delivery to a component of the computer based on a period of time required for the component to return to a fully operational state from a less fully powered mode; and a microprocessor which is connected to the control circuitry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a sensor mounted on the computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a sound sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device is mounted in a position near one of the keys of the keyboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a temperature sensor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a strain sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a piezoelectric sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 22 wherein the person sensing device is mounted in a keyboard of the computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the person sensing device comprises a light sensor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the less fully powered mode comprises a zero powered mode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system of claim 25, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a peripheral controller in the form of an ASIC, a system controller in the form of an ASIC, a keyboard control circuit, a discrete logic component, a passive discrete component, and combinations thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4409665A
Cited
US4649373A
Cited
US4755707A
Cited
US5404541A
Cited
US5249298A
Cited
US5175845A
Cited
US5163153A
Cited
US5428790A
Cited
US5231380A
Cited
US5255341A
Cited
GB2235797A
Cited
US5218704A
Cited
US5247655A
Cited
US5276890A
Cited
US5355503A
Cited
US5148380A
Cited
EP0488384A1
Cited
US5369443A
Cited
JPH0546295A
Cited
US5371693A
Cited
US5369771A
Cited
JPH05303455A
Cited
JPH06119090A
Cited
US5396443A
Cited
US5408668A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |