US5838982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power switch method and apparatus for preventing a failure in the power controller
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-19
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Granted: 1998-11-17
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Expires: 2016-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A computer typically includes a power switch. A method of power switch management of the computer may be implemented in which a system power operation of the computer is performed if the power switch has been activated in a first manner and an operation of the computer other than a system power operation of the computer is performed if the power switch has been activated in a second manner. The operation of the computer other than a system power operation of the computer can include, for example, a suspend/resume operation of the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Barnes Cooper
- 👤 Steven Ray Bard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of power switch management of a computer including a power switch and a microcontroller, said method comprising steps of: if said power switch has been activated in a first manner, performing a system power operation of said computer; if said power switch has been activated in a second manner, performing a suspend/resume operation of said computer; determining whether the microcontroller has serviced an interrupt, said interrupt having been generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner; and resetting the microcontroller and powering off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by the microcontroller.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of power switch management of a computer including a power switch and a microcontroller, said method comprising steps of: if said power switch has been activated in a first manner, performing a system power operation of said computer; if said power switch has been activated in a second manner, performing a suspend/resume operation of said computer; determining whether the microcontroller has serviced an interrupt, said interrupt having been generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner; and resetting the microcontroller and powering off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by the microcontroller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period of at least a predetermined time period and said second manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period less than said predetermined time period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined time period comprises four seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said system power operation includes at least one of turning on system power of said computer and turning off system power of said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said suspend/resume operation includes at least one of controlling said computer to be in a suspend mode and controlling said computer to be in a resume mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a portable computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a notebook computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a desk top computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer comprising: a power switch; a controller controlling a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a first manner and controlling a suspend/resume operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a second manner; and a watchdog timer coupled to said controller that determines whether said controller has serviced an interrupt that was generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner, and that resets said controller and powers off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by said controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer comprising: a power switch; a controller controlling a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a first manner and controlling a suspend/resume operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a second manner; and a watchdog timer coupled to said controller that determines whether said controller has serviced an interrupt that was generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner, and that resets said controller and powers off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by said controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said first manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period of at least a predetermined time period and said second manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period less than said predetermined time period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined time period comprises four seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said system power operation includes at least one of turning on system power of said computer and turning off system power of said computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said suspend/resume operation includes at least one of controlling said computer to be in a suspend mode and controlling said computer to be in a resume mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said controller includes a microcontroller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said controller includes a timer-interrupt interrupt service routine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer according to claim 15, wherein said timer-interrupt interrupt service routine is performed approximately every 5 ms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said computer comprises a portable computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said computer comprises a notebook computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A computer according to claim 9, wherein said computer comprises a desktop computer.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of power switch management of a computer which includes a power switch and a microcontroller, said method comprising steps of: if said power switch has been activated in a first manner, performing a system power operation of said computer; if said power switch has been activated in a second manner, performing an operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer; determining whether the microcontroller has serviced an interrupt, said interrupt having been generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner; and resetting the microcontroller and powering off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by the microcontroller.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of power switch management of a computer which includes a power switch and a microcontroller, said method comprising steps of: if said power switch has been activated in a first manner, performing a system power operation of said computer; if said power switch has been activated in a second manner, performing an operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer; determining whether the microcontroller has serviced an interrupt, said interrupt having been generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner; and resetting the microcontroller and powering off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by the microcontroller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said first manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period of at least a predetermined time period and said second manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period less than said predetermined time period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said computer comprises a portable computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer comprises a suspend/resume operation of said computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer comprising: a power switch; a controller controlling a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a first manner and controlling an operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a second manner; and a watchdog timer coupled to said controller that determines whether said controller has serviced an interrupt that was generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner, and that resets said controller and powers off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by said controller.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer comprising: a power switch; a controller controlling a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a first manner and controlling an operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer if said power switch has been activated in a second manner; and a watchdog timer coupled to said controller that determines whether said controller has serviced an interrupt that was generated in response to said power switch being activated by either said first or second manner, and that resets said controller and powers off said computer if said interrupt was not serviced by said controller.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer according to claim 24, wherein said first manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period of at least a predetermined time period and said second manner comprises an activation of said power switch for a time period less than said predetermined time period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A computer according to claim 24, wherein said computer comprises a portable computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer according to claim 24, wherein said operation of said computer other than a system power operation of said computer comprises a suspend/resume operation of said computer.
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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) | 2001-11-16 | 2002-05-18 | 2002-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-16 | 2006-05-18 | 2006-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-16 | 2010-05-18 | 2010-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |