US5307003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Varying the supply voltage in response to the current supplied to a computer system
Assignee: Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc
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Filing: 1992-07-07
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2012-07-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a power system for use with a computer, the power system having incorporated in it circuitry for automatically varying the supply voltage output to the computer system based upon the magnitude of the current being supplied to the computer by the power system. Also included in the computer system is a variable frequency clock circuit, the frequency of which changes based upon the supply voltage produced by the power system. This permits, during computer system operation where low voltage and low clock speeds will be sufficient to provide the performance needed, achievement of a power saving since both the voltage and frequency at which the system operates is reduced, thereby markedly reducing the power consumption.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Fairbanks
- 👤 Andy C. Yuan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/324; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/62; G06F1/04; G06F1/08; G06F1/3296; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/855; H02J7/90; H02J7/933; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/10; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S331/00; Y10S331/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A power system for providing a supply voltage to a computer and automatically varying said supply voltage responsive to themagnitude of the current being supplied to the computer, said power system comprising: a supply voltage circuit for generating at an output terminal said supply voltage and said current being supplied to the computer, said supply voltage circuit having a control terminal for receiving a control signal for varying said supply voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal; and a current sensing circuit for sensing said current provided to the computer, said current sensing circuit generating at its output said control signal such said control signal varies in magnitude in accordance with said current sensed, so as to vary said supply voltage between said first and second voltage levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A power system for providing a supply voltage to a computer and automatically varying said supply voltage responsive to themagnitude of the current being supplied to the computer, said power system comprising: a supply voltage circuit for generating at an output terminal said supply voltage and said current being supplied to the computer, said supply voltage circuit having a control terminal for receiving a control signal for varying said supply voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal; and a current sensing circuit for sensing said current provided to the computer, said current sensing circuit generating at its output said control signal such said control signal varies in magnitude in accordance with said current sensed, so as to vary said supply voltage between said first and second voltage levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A power system as in claim 1, wherein said control signal having first and second states and said supply voltage circuit comprises an on-off regulator circuit receiving said control signal, said on-off regulator circuit being turned on and off, respectively, in response to said first and second states of said control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said current sensing means senses said current provided to the computer by sensing a percentage of time that said on-off regulator turns on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 2, wherein said on-off regulator comprises an on-off oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A power system as in claim 1, wherein said current sensing circuit comprises: a circuit for converting said current into a voltage level; and a comparator circuit receiving said voltage level and a predetermine voltage and for providing as an output signal said control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A power system as in claim 5, wherein power of operation of said computer is provided by a battery, said power system further comprising a battery monitor circuit, said battery monitoring circuit varies said predetermined voltage in accordance with the charge condition of said battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power system as in claim 1, wherein said current sensing circuit comprises a switching DC to DC converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A power system as in claim 1, further comprising a frequency control circuit for generating clock signal for said computer, said frequency control circuit varies the frequency of said clock signal in accordance with said magnitude of said supply voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a power system, a method for providing a supply voltage to a computer and for automatically varying said supply voltage responsive to the magnitude of current being supplied to the computer, said method comprising: providing a supply voltage circuit for generating at an output terminal. said supply voltage and said current being supplied to the computer, said supply voltage circuit being provided a control terminal for receiving a control signal for varying said supply voltage between said a first voltage level and a second voltage level in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal; providing a current sensing circuit for sensing said current provided to the computer, said current sensing circuit generating at its output said control signal such that said control signal varies in magnitude in accordance with the current sensed; and provide said control signal to said control temrinal so as to vary said supply voltage between said first and second voltage levels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a power system, a method for providing a supply voltage to a computer and for automatically varying said supply voltage responsive to the magnitude of current being supplied to the computer, said method comprising: providing a supply voltage circuit for generating at an output terminal. said supply voltage and said current being supplied to the computer, said supply voltage circuit being provided a control terminal for receiving a control signal for varying said supply voltage between said a first voltage level and a second voltage level in accordance with the magnitude of said control signal; providing a current sensing circuit for sensing said current provided to the computer, said current sensing circuit generating at its output said control signal such that said control signal varies in magnitude in accordance with the current sensed; and provide said control signal to said control temrinal so as to vary said supply voltage between said first and second voltage levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said control signal having first and second states and said step of providing a supply voltage circuit comprises the step of providing an on-off regulator circuit receiving said control signal, said on-off regulator circuit being turned on and off, respectively, in response to said first and second states of said control signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein said on-off regulator comprises an on-off oscillator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein said current sensing means senses said current provided to the computer by sensing a percentage of time that such on-off regulator turns on.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said step of providing a current sensing circuit comprises the steps of: providing a circuit for converting said current into a voltage level; and providing a comparator circuit receiving said voltage level and a predetermined voltage and for providing as an output signal said control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as in claim 13, wherein power for operation of said computer is provided by a battery, said method further comprising the step of providing a battery monitor circuit, said battery monitoring circuit varies said predetermined voltage in accordance with the charge condition of said battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said step of providing a current sensing circuit comprises the step of providing a switching DC to DC converter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a frequency control circuit for generating a clock signal for said computer, said frequency control circuit varies the frequency of said clock signal in accordance with said magnitude of said supply voltage.
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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) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |