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US5774813A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for controlling the power consumption of an electronic device

Assignee: Nokia Oyj
•
Filing: 1997-06-18
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2017-06-18
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a method to reduce the power consumption of an electronic device comprising at least two voltage regulators. At least one of the regulators (REG2-REG4) is switched off, and the output of at least one regulator still switched on is connected to the output (OUT2-OUT4) of the at least one regulator switched off, in order to supply power to said at least one output (OUT2-OUT4).

Inventors

  • 👤 Harri Jokinen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 20:51
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/56; G05F1/577; H; H02; H02J; H02J1/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
A method for supplying a regulated voltage to a plurality of discrete circuits in an electronic device comprising a plurality of voltage regulators, having outputs respectively connected to said plurality of discrete circuits, for providing respective regulated voltage outputs thereto, wherein during a non-power saving active state the plurality of voltage regulators provide respective regulated voltage outputs for said plurality of discrete circuits, and in a power saving down state the regulated voltage output of one of said plurality of voltage regulators is connected to the outputs of all of the other voltage regulators to provide the regulated voltage output of said one of said voltage regulators to all of said plurality of discrete circuits and the other voltage regulators have their regulated voltage outputs disconnected from their respective discrete circuits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 131 words
A method for supplying a regulated voltage to a plurality of discrete circuits in an electronic device comprising a plurality of voltage regulators, having outputs respectively connected to said plurality of discrete circuits, for providing respective regulated voltage outputs thereto, wherein during a non-power saving active state the plurality of voltage regulators provide respective regulated voltage outputs for said plurality of discrete circuits, and in a power saving down state the regulated voltage output of one of said plurality of voltage regulators is connected to the outputs of all of the other voltage regulators to provide the regulated voltage output of said one of said voltage regulators to all of said plurality of discrete circuits and the other voltage regulators have their regulated voltage outputs disconnected from their respective discrete circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulated voltage outputs of said plurality of voltage regulators are at substantially the same voltage level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the power saving down state the other voltage regulators are switched to an inactive state in response to a power down signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone operable in a mobile telephone system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile telephone operates in the power down state during a period substantially corresponding to the period between two successive control channel messages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of voltage regulators comprises two.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of voltage regulators are included in an operating circuit and comprise less than all of the voltage regulators in said operating circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 132 words
An electronic device comprising: a plurality of discrete circuits, a plurality of voltage regulators having outputs for respectively providing regulated voltage outputs to said plurality of discrete circuits, first connecting means, operable during a non-power saving active state, for connecting the outputs of said plurality of voltage regulators to respectively provide regulated voltage outputs to said plurality of discrete circuits, and second connecting means, operable during a power down state, for connecting the regulated voltage output of one of said voltage regulators to the outputs of all of the other voltage regulators of said plurality of voltage regulators to provide the regulated voltage output of said one voltage regulator to all of said plurality of discrete circuits, and for disconnecting the outputs of said other voltage regulators from their respective discrete circuits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 132 words
An electronic device comprising: a plurality of discrete circuits, a plurality of voltage regulators having outputs for respectively providing regulated voltage outputs to said plurality of discrete circuits, first connecting means, operable during a non-power saving active state, for connecting the outputs of said plurality of voltage regulators to respectively provide regulated voltage outputs to said plurality of discrete circuits, and second connecting means, operable during a power down state, for connecting the regulated voltage output of one of said voltage regulators to the outputs of all of the other voltage regulators of said plurality of voltage regulators to provide the regulated voltage output of said one voltage regulator to all of said plurality of discrete circuits, and for disconnecting the outputs of said other voltage regulators from their respective discrete circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
An electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second connecting means operable during the power down state is a switchable electrical connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
An electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electronic device is a radiotelephone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
An electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of voltage regulators comprises two.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
A electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of voltage regulators comprise less than all of the voltage regulators in said electronic device.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 118 words
A method to reduce the power consumption of an electronic device comprising at least two voltage regulators, each having an output connection, and at least two discrete circuits respectively connected to the output connections of the at least two voltage regulators for receiving the outputs thereof, characterized in that at least one of the voltage regulators is switched off, and that the output of at least one voltage regulator that is still switched on is connected to the output connection of the at least one voltage regulator which was switched off, in order to supply power to said at least one output connection at a moment when the electronic device is on, but operationally in a passive mode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 118 words
A method to reduce the power consumption of an electronic device comprising at least two voltage regulators, each having an output connection, and at least two discrete circuits respectively connected to the output connections of the at least two voltage regulators for receiving the outputs thereof, characterized in that at least one of the voltage regulators is switched off, and that the output of at least one voltage regulator that is still switched on is connected to the output connection of the at least one voltage regulator which was switched off, in order to supply power to said at least one output connection at a moment when the electronic device is on, but operationally in a passive mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 67 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that all of the at least two voltage regulators, except for said one voltage regulator that is still switched on, are switched off, and that the output of the one voltage regulator still switched on is connected to the output connections of all of the voltage regulators which were switched off to supply power to said output connections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 59 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the electronic device is a mobile telephone and that the output of the one voltage regulator still switched on is connected to the output connection of the at least one voltage regulator which was switched off when the mobile telephone is switched into the so called power saving mode.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-06-29 2001-12-29 2002-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-06-29 2005-12-29 2006-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-06-29 2009-12-29 2010-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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