Patent · US Expired

Electronic system with variable threshold power failure signaling

US5437040A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
21References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 1994
Grant dateJul 25, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R21/133
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A digital electronics system, such as a computer, includes circuits which provides signals proportional to the instantaneous voltage and current on the power bus to a microprocessor. The microprocessor uses these signals, the capacitance of the system filter capacitors, and the desired time for the system voltage to remain above a minimum voltage, to calculate an instantaneous voltage threshold. When the power bus voltage falls below this threshold voltage, the microprocessor provides a signal warning of impending power failure. The product of the voltage and current, i.e. the instantaneous system power, is displayed on an alphanumeric LED on the front panel of the computer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.