Reducing battery discharge current by throttling CPU power
US6472848B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
CPU power consumption is throttled in relation to the discharge current of a battery pack to prevent battery cells of the battery pack from reaching a critical temperature. When a discharge current measuring circuit detects that discharge current exceeds a threshold level, a throttle signal is activated. In response, a CPU stop control line is modulated to reduce CPU power consumption. When the discharge current falls below another threshold and/or after a prescribed time delay, the throttle signal is withdrawn. The duty cycle of the CPU stop control line is determined as a function of the excess discharge current (i.e., actual discharge current level less safety threshold current level). The more excessive the actual discharge current, the larger the duty cycle on the CPU stop modulation line, and the greater the degree that CPU power consumption is reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.