System for reporting computer energy consumption

Claim 2

In an electronic device having a microprocessor and power supply lines for supplying power to the device, a circuit for determining and reporting a quantity of energy consumed by the device, the circuit comprising: means for sensing a voltage across the power supply lines and for generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage; means for sensing a current passing through the power supply lines and for generating a current signal indicative of the sensed current; means for receiving the generated voltage and current signals and for generating a power signal indicative of a product of the voltage and current signals, the power signal being indicative of an amount of power consumed by the device; means for integrating over time the consumed power indicated by the power signal to determine the quantity of energy consumed by the device, and for altering the frequency at which a pulse width modulator ("PWM") of the device generates pulses when the consumed energy equals or exceeds a predetermined quantity of energy; and a phase lock loop ("PLL") responsive to a change in the frequency of pulses generated by the PWM for reporting to the microprocessor a secondary signal pulse indicating that consumed energy equals or exceeds the predetermined quantity of energy.

Claim 3

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the current sensing means comprises a current sense resistor connected in series with one of the power supply lines.

Claim 4

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the voltage sensing means comprises a voltage divider connected across the power supply lines.

Claim 5

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the voltage sensing means further comprises an amplifier for amplifying the generated voltage signal.

Claim 6

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the power signal generating means comprises an analog multiplier connected for receiving and determining the product of the voltage and current signals.

Claim 7

The circuit of claim 5 wherein the multiplier comprises a first logarithmic amplifier for generating a first signal indicative of the logarithm of the voltage signal and second logarithmic amplifier for generating a second signal indicative of the logarithm of the voltage signal.

Claim 8

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the integrating means is a proportional voltage-to-frequency converter connected for receiving the power signal and the altering means is a frequency modulator for altering the frequency proportional to the voltage level of the power signal.

Claim 9

The circuit of claim 1 wherein the electronic device also has a transformer connected between the microprocessor and the power supply lines and wherein the PWM is connected to the primary side of the transformer and the PLL is connected to the secondary side of the transformer.

Claim 10

In an electronic device having a microprocessor, a power supply, including a pulse width modulator, for supplying power to the microprocessor and power supply lines for supplying power to the power supply, a circuit for determining and reporting a quantity of energy consumed by the device, the circuit comprising: a voltage divider connected for sensing a voltage across the power supply lines and generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage; a current sense resistor serially connected with a power supply line for sensing a current passing through the power supply lines and generating a current signal indicative of the sensed current; an analog multiplier connected for receiving and computing a product of the voltage and current signals, and for generating a power signal indicative of the computed product of the voltage and current signals, the power signal being indicative of an amount of power consumed by the device; a proportional voltage-to-frequency converter connected for receiving the power signal and for generating primary signal pulses at a frequency proportional to a voltage level of the power signal, wherein each of the primary signal pulses is indicative that a predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed by the device; a frequency modulator connected to the converter and responsive to generation of a primary signal pulse for altering the frequency of the pulse width modulator; and a phase lock loop for reporting to the microprocessor a secondary signal pulse indicating that a predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed by the device.

Claim 11

In an electronic device having a microprocessor, a power supply, including a pulse width modulator, for supplying power to the microprocessor and power supply lines for supplying power to the power supply, a circuit for determining and reporting a quantity of energy consumed by the device, the circuit comprising: a voltage divider connected for sensing a voltage across the power supply lines and generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage; a current sense resistor serially connected with a power supply line for sensing a current passing through the power supply lines and generating a current signal indicative of the sensed current; an analog multiplier connected for receiving and computing a product of the voltage and current signals, and for generating a power signal indicative of the computed product of the voltage and current signals, the power signal being indicative of an amount of power consumed by the device; a proportional voltage-to-frequency converter connected for receiving the power signal and for generating primary signal pulses at a frequency proportional to a voltage level of the power signal, wherein each of the primary signal pulses is indicative that a predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed by the device; a frequency modulator connected to the converter and responsive to generation of a primary signal pulse for altering the frequency of the pulse width modulator; and a phase lock loop for reporting to the microprocessor a secondary signal pulse indicating that a predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed by the device.

Claim 12

The circuit of claim 9 further comprising an amplifier connected between the voltage divider and the analog multiplier for amplifying the generated voltage signal.

Claim 13

The circuit of claim 9 wherein the multiplier comprises a first logarithmic amplifier for generating a first signal indicative of the logarithm of the voltage signal and second logarithmic amplifier for generating a second signal indicative of the logarithm of the voltage signal.

Claim 14

In a computer system connected for receiving power from a switching power supply controlled by a pulse width of pulses output at a substantially constant frequency by a pulse width modulator (PWM), wherein the power supply receives power through power supply lines, a circuit for determining and reporting a quantity of energy consumed by the computer system, the circuit comprising: means for sensing a voltage across the power supply lines and generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage; a frequency modulator operable for altering a frequency at which the PWM generates pulses; means connected to the output of the PWM for sensing a width of pulses output therefrom and for generating a current signal from the sensed pulse widths indicative of an amount of current passing through the power supply lines; a timer device having a capacitor that is charged at a rate proportional to the voltage level of the current and voltage signals until a first predetermined charge level is attained, at which point the capacitor is discharged to generate a series of primary signal pulses at a frequency proportional to the received voltage and current signals, wherein each primary signal pulse represents the consumption by the computer system of a predetermined quantity of energy; and means responsive to generation of a primary signal pulse for generating to the microprocessor a secondary signal pulse indicating that the predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed, the means for generating a secondary signal pulse including a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit responsive to a change in the frequency of pulses generated by the PWM.

Claim 15

In a computer system connected for receiving power from a switching power supply controlled by a pulse width of pulses output at a substantially constant frequency by a pulse width modulator (PWM), wherein the power supply receives power through power supply lines, a circuit for determining and reporting a quantity of energy consumed by the computer system, the circuit comprising: means for sensing a voltage across the power supply lines and generating a voltage signal indicative of the sensed voltage; a frequency modulator operable for altering a frequency at which the PWM generates pulses; means connected to the output of the PWM for sensing a width of pulses output therefrom and for generating a current signal from the sensed pulse widths indicative of an amount of current passing through the power supply lines; a timer device having a capacitor that is charged at a rate proportional to the voltage level of the current and voltage signals until a first predetermined charge level is attained, at which point the capacitor is discharged to generate a series of primary signal pulses at a frequency proportional to the received voltage and current signals, wherein each primary signal pulse represents the consumption by the computer system of a predetermined quantity of energy; and means responsive to generation of a primary signal pulse for generating to the microprocessor a secondary signal pulse indicating that the predetermined quantity of energy has been consumed, the means for generating a secondary signal pulse including a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit responsive to a change in the frequency of pulses generated by the PWM.

Claim 16

The circuit of claim 12 wherein the voltage sensing means comprises a voltage divider connected across the power supply lines.

Claim 17

The circuit of claim 12 wherein the means for generating a secondary signal pulse is an opto-coupler.