Apparatus and method for reading back socket power status information
US5758171A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 26, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/266
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling power to a device such as a PCMCIA/PC card. A PCMCIA/PC card adapter is provided for communicating data and control signals to and from a PCMCIA/PC card and a host processor. The PCMCIA/PC card adapter may communicate with the PCMCIA/PC card to determine the correct voltage(s) for the PCMCIA/PC card. The PCMCIA/PC card may then communicate instruct a power control circuit to provide an appropriate voltage to the PCMCIA/PC card. The power control circuit may be provided with status monitoring registers containing status data reflecting monitored conditions of the PCMCIA/PC card and power supply. A System Management Bus (SMB) may link the power control circuit and the PCMCIA/PC card adapter. If an abnormal status is detected in the PCMCIA/PC card or power supply (e.g., over temperature, over current, thermal shutdown, or the like) the power control circuit, provided with an arbiter and SMB master state machine, may assert control of the SMB and transfer contents of the status registers to corresponding status registers in the PCMCIA/PC card adapter. If abnormal status is detect in the status registers of the PCMCIA/PC card adapter…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.