Patent US2499773A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2174585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2093285A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US1060893A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4328637A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5754870A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5754870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power management of a computer plug-in card having a remote data link
Assignee: New Media Corp
•
Filing: 1996-02-16
•
Granted: 1998-05-19
•
Expires: 2016-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A computer system includes a computer and a plug-in card having a remote data link. The plug-in card draws power from the power sour the computer. A status monitor shows the operability of the remote data link, specifically whether it is operable for data communications to or from the computer, and its connection to the plug-in card. Power to the plug-in card is controlled responsive to the status monitor, so that power to the card is enabled only when the external data link and its connector are operable.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Pollard
- 👤 Rodney J. Corder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3209; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3281; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer comprising: a power source having a power source output, an computer/card connector into which a plug-in card may be inserted, the computer/card connector including a computer power connector element, and a computer power transmission line communicating between the power source output and the computer power connector element; a plug-in card receivable into the computer/card connector, the plug-in card comprising: a card/computer connector having at least one card power connector element which is in electrical communication with the computer power connector element when the card/computer connector is connected to the computer/card connector, a power-consuming component on the plug-in card having a power consumption input, a card power transmission line communicating between the card power connector element and the power consumption input of the power-consuming component, and a card/data link connector that may be mated with a remote data link; a status monitor in one of the computer or the plug-in card, the status monitor having a status monitor output signal indicative of the operability of the card/data link connector and the operability of the remote data link; a controllable power connect switch disposed in one of the computer power transmission line and the card power transmission line, whereby the power source output is in electrical power communication with the power consumption input when the power connect switch is closed and the plug-in card is received into the computer/card connector, and is not in electrical power communication with the power consumption input when the power connect switch is open and the plug-in card is received into the computer/card connector, the power connect switch having a control input which determines whether the power connect switch is open or closed; and a power controller in operable communication with the control input of the power connect switch, the power controller receiving and acting responsively to the status monitor output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer comprising: a power source having a power source output, an computer/card connector into which a plug-in card may be inserted, the computer/card connector including a computer power connector element, and a computer power transmission line communicating between the power source output and the computer power connector element; a plug-in card receivable into the computer/card connector, the plug-in card comprising: a card/computer connector having at least one card power connector element which is in electrical communication with the computer power connector element when the card/computer connector is connected to the computer/card connector, a power-consuming component on the plug-in card having a power consumption input, a card power transmission line communicating between the card power connector element and the power consumption input of the power-consuming component, and a card/data link connector that may be mated with a remote data link; a status monitor in one of the computer or the plug-in card, the status monitor having a status monitor output signal indicative of the operability of the card/data link connector and the operability of the remote data link; a controllable power connect switch disposed in one of the computer power transmission line and the card power transmission line, whereby the power source output is in electrical power communication with the power consumption input when the power connect switch is closed and the plug-in card is received into the computer/card connector, and is not in electrical power communication with the power consumption input when the power connect switch is open and the plug-in card is received into the computer/card connector, the power connect switch having a control input which determines whether the power connect switch is open or closed; and a power controller in operable communication with the control input of the power connect switch, the power controller receiving and acting responsively to the status monitor output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer/card connector is a 68-pin connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in card is a local area network card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in card is a small computer systems interface card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in card is a modem card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in card is an audio speaker card having an external connection to a sound-producing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in card is a video grabber card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the status monitor comprises a data received flag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the status monitor comprises a good-link signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the status monitor comprises a self-directed data packet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power connect switch is located within the computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power connect switch is located on the plug-in card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the power controller comprises a programmable processing unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer/card connector is externally accessible such that the plug-in card may be inserted therein without exposing the interior of the computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
195 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer comprising a power source, and an externally accessible computer/card connector into which a plug-in card may be inserted without exposing the interior of the computer, the computer/card connector including a computer power connector element in communication with the power source, a plug-in card receivable into the externally accessible connector, the plug-in card comprising a card/computer connector having at least one card power connector element which is in electrical communication with the computer power connector element when the card/computer connector is connected to the computer/card connector, a power-consuming component on the plug-in card having a power consumption input, a card/data link connector that may be mated with a remote data transmission link; and power management means for sensing the operability of the card/data link connector and the operability of the remote data link for data transmission, for providing power from the power source to the power-consuming component when the card/data link connector and the remote data link are operable for data transmission, and for disabling power from the power source to the power-consuming component when the card/data link connector and the remote data link are not operable for data transmission.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
195 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer comprising a power source, and an externally accessible computer/card connector into which a plug-in card may be inserted without exposing the interior of the computer, the computer/card connector including a computer power connector element in communication with the power source, a plug-in card receivable into the externally accessible connector, the plug-in card comprising a card/computer connector having at least one card power connector element which is in electrical communication with the computer power connector element when the card/computer connector is connected to the computer/card connector, a power-consuming component on the plug-in card having a power consumption input, a card/data link connector that may be mated with a remote data transmission link; and power management means for sensing the operability of the card/data link connector and the operability of the remote data link for data transmission, for providing power from the power source to the power-consuming component when the card/data link connector and the remote data link are operable for data transmission, and for disabling power from the power source to the power-consuming component when the card/data link connector and the remote data link are not operable for data transmission.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer system of claim 16, wherein the power source is a battery.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system of claim 16, wherein the power management means comprises a status monitor indicative of the operability of the card/data link connector and the remote data link, and a power connect switch operable responsive to the status monitor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer having a power source and a computer/card connector; a plug-in card with remote data link capability, the plug-in card drawing power from the power source; and power management means for sensing the operability of the remote data link capability when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector, for providing power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is operable, and for disabling power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is not operable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
A computer system, comprising: a computer having a power source and a computer/card connector; a plug-in card with remote data link capability, the plug-in card drawing power from the power source; and power management means for sensing the operability of the remote data link capability when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector, for providing power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is operable, and for disabling power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is not operable.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for conserving power in a computer system, comprising the steps of providing a computer having a power source and a computer/card connector; providing a plug-in card with remote data link capability, the plug-in card drawing power from the power source; sensing the operability of the remote data link capability when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector; providing power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is simultaneously operable, and disabling power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is not operable.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for conserving power in a computer system, comprising the steps of providing a computer having a power source and a computer/card connector; providing a plug-in card with remote data link capability, the plug-in card drawing power from the power source; sensing the operability of the remote data link capability when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector; providing power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is simultaneously operable, and disabling power from the power source to the plug-in card when the plug-in card is inserted into the computer/card connector and when the remote data link capability is not operable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5421018A
Cited
US5396635A
Cited
US5396636A
Cited
US5408668A
Cited
US5442697A
Cited
US5546590A
Cited
US5606704A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |