Device having an improved apparatus and method for setting power management mode

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, a device having an apparatus and method for setting a power management mode.

2. Background of the Related Art

In an electronic device using a battery, such as a notebook computer, power management is important. For notebook computers using a Pentium CPU manufactured by the Intel Corporation, the CPU uses a Geyserville technology, which supports two power management modes, i.e., a high performance mode and a battery-optimized mode.

The notebook computer uses the high performance mode under the environment of AC power source, and uses the battery-optimized mode under the environment of a battery-only power source. In addition, the menu wherein an user can set the default mode in each environment is realized through Power Management applet (WordPad, Graphic Panel, or the like) in control panel programs of Microsoft Windows.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> illustrates a notebook computer <b>1</b> having a recess for receiving a smart battery <b>50</b> and input <b>2</b> for receiving the voltage from an AC/DC adapter <b>3</b>, and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> illustrates a schematic block diagram of a general notebook. In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref>, a central processing unit (CPU) <b>10</b> controls the overall operation, and a Geyserville ASIC <b>20</b> controls the mode-switching of a power mode driven in the system. A core chipset <b>30</b> manages the I/O interface between the system and a peripheral device upon receipt of a command from the CPU. A micro controller <b>40</b> handles the interaction of a keyboard, mouse interface, power management, and battery interface. A smart battery <b>50</b> is used as a power source when an external power source is not available or not used, and a power detector <b>40</b> detects the application of the external power source.

The conventional notebook computer system implements the power management mode of the CPU according to which power source is provided. Since power management is implemented by only two modes, i.e., the maximum performance mode and battery-optimized mode, according to whether or not AC power detected from the power detector <b>60</b> is applied, the power management is not efficiently achieved from an optimized power use point of view. Here, the maximum performance mode means a state where the load of the system is maximum and other devices are operated according to this. The battery-optimized mode means idle state of parts of a device, that is, power save state. In addition, in the case where the battery residual amount of the notebook computer is less than 50%, if a AC power source is plugged into the computer while using a battery only as a power source during a work on computer, most of the power is supplied to the system and only a part thereof is supplied to the battery, for thereby making the charging speed slower.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.

An object of the present invention is to improve power management. Another object of the present invention is to allow flexibility in power management.

A further object of the present invention is to allow user to set the power management.

Still another object of the present invention is to quickly charge the battery.

A further object of the present invention is to increase the number of power management modes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for setting a power management mode capable of easily and simply setting the power management mode for a notebook computer system, and automatically setting the power management mode for the notebook computer system as an optimized mode according to the current operating state.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a charging method for reducing the charge time of a battery by appropriately converting the operating mode of a central processing unit of a Geyserville within the range of less effecting the performance of a computer, if the charging residual amount of a charging battery is judged to be less than a predetermined value when a power mode is converted to an adapter mode from a battery mode.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an apparatus for setting a power management mode according to the present invention which includes: at least one detecting unit for monitoring the temperature state of a notebook computer, the charging state of a battery, and the power applying state from external source; a storing unit for storing the state of the individual condition and an appropriate power management mode in connection with each other; and a control unit for reading the power management mode corresponding to the current state of the individual monitored condition from the storing unit and for setting the same as a power management mode for the notebook computer.

In addition, there is provided a method for setting a power management mode according to the present invention which includes the steps of: continuously monitoring the temperature state of a notebook computer, charging state of a battery and whether an external power is applied or not for setting a power management mode; reporting the result of the monitoring to a control unit and setting the power management mode as manual or automatic by an user; and checking the power management mode according to the current monitoring state from a memory to set the same as the power management mode for the apparatus, if the power management mode is set manual, or selecting and setting the power management mode by key input by the user, if the power management mode is set automatic.

Furthermore, while the notebook computer is operated only by the battery, it is operated in a maximum performance mode if the battery residual amount is more than 50% when an AC power source is inputted. On the other hand, if the battery residual amount is less than 50%, the maximum performance mode is switched to a Geyserville cycling mode so as to make the charging speed higher.

The present invention can be achieved in a whole or in parts by a method of selecting one of a plurality of modes for power management, the method comprising: selecting a maximum performance mode based on a first condition; selecting a battery-optimized mode based on a second condition; and selecting a third mode different from maximum performance mode and the battery-optimized mode based on a third condition.

The present invention can be achieved in a whole or in parts by a apparatus for allowing a system to have a plurality of modes for power management comprising: a controller which supports the plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes includes a maximum performance mode, a battery optimized mode and a performance/optimization cycling mode, wherein during the performance/optimization cycling mode, the maximum performance mode is performed for a first prescribed period of time and the battery optimized mode is performed for a second prescribed period of time.

The present invention can be achieved in a whole or in parts by a method for setting a power management mode for a system, comprising: continuously monitoring the temperature state of the system, the charging state of a battery, and the application of power from an external source for setting a power management mode; and checking the power management mode according to the result of the monitoring from a memory for setting the same as the power management mode for the apparatus.

The present invention can be achieved in a whole or in parts by a system having prescribed function and operation to achieve a prescribed result, the system having an apparatus for setting a power management mode, wherein the apparatus includes: at least one detector to monitor a condition of the system based on the temperature, remaining charge of a battery, and whether an external power is applied or not; and a controller for determining the power management mode corresponding to monitored condition from the storing unit.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> illustrates a notebook computer;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> illustrates a schematic block diagram of a general notebook;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates the construction of a notebook system according to an apparatus for setting a power management mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates the correlation of detected conditions with the power management mode in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> illustrates a method for manually or automatically setting the power management mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref> illustrates the details of the step for automatically checking the power management mode of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> illustrates the details of automatically updating the power management mode of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> illustrates the details of automatically updating the power management mode of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates the construction of a notebook system according to an apparatus for setting a power management mode of the present invention. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is somewhat similar to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, but further includes: a thermal monitor <b>70</b> for detecting the temperature of a predetermined position on a PCB of a computer main board; a flash memory <b>80</b> for storing the state of an individual preset condition for setting a power management mode and an appropriate optimized power management mode in connection with each other; and a power mode setting button <b>90</b> for manually setting a power management mode by an user. According to the state of the individual preset condition for setting a power management mode and whether or not the user depresses the power mode setting button <b>90</b>, the function and operation of a controller <b>41</b> for automatically or manually setting the power management mode for the notebook system are different from FIG. <b>1</b>.

The controller <b>41</b> supports power management modes for a notebook computer system, including (1) a maximum power performance mode wherein the load of the system is maximum and other devices are operated according to this, (2) a battery-optimized mode wherein parts of the devices are in power save state in case of an idle state, and (3) a performance/optimization cycling mode for performing the maximum performance mode and the battery-optimized mode alternately within a prescribed period of time.

The performance/optimization cycling mode (POCM) includes at least one additional power management mode, which alternately utilizes the maximum performance mode (PM) and the battery optimized mode (BOM) for a prescribed period of time D_Tbased on MPM and BOM duration ratio R_P/O, where R_P/O=T_P/T_O, T_Pbeing the cumulative duration of the maximum performance mode for a first prescribed period of time D₁and T_Obeing the cumulative duration of the battery optimized mode for a second prescribed period of time D₂. Since the PCOM is performed for a period of time D_T, D_T=D₁+D₂.

For example, in the preferred embodiment, there are four additional power management modes based on the duration ratio R_P/Oof POCM<b>1</b>, POCM<b>2</b>, POCM<b>3</b> and POCM<b>4</b> for a prescribed period of time D_Tof 100 ms. In POCM<b>1</b>, the R_P/O=4:1, where T_P=80 ms and T_O=20 ms, such that the MPM is performed for 80 ms and thereafter BOM is performed for 20 ms within the 100 ms prescribed period of time D_T. In POCM<b>2</b>, the R_P/O=3:2, where T_P=60 ms and T_O=40 ms, such that the MPM is performed for 60 ms and thereafter BOM is performed for 40 ms within the 100 ms prescribed period of time D_T. In POCM<b>3</b>, the R_P/O=2:3, where T_P=40 ms and T_O=60 ms, such that the MPM is performed for 40 ms and thereafter BOM is performed for 60 ms within the 100 ms prescribed period of time D_T. In POCM<b>4</b>, the R_P/O=1:4, where T_P=20 ms and T_O=80 ms, such that the MPM is performed for 20 ms and thereafter BOM is performed for 80 ms within the 100 ms prescribed period of time D_T.

In the preferred embodiment of POCM, the MPM and the BOM are alternately performed once. However, as can be appreciated, the cycling between the MPM and the BOM can be performed repetitively for the prescribed period of time DT based on the duration ratio R_P/O. For example, the MPM can be performed for first 40 ms, the BOM can be performed for the next 10 ms, the MPM can be performed for the next 40 ms and the BOM can be performed for the last 10 ms in the POCM<b>1</b> such that the duration ratio R_P/Oof 4:1 is maintained for the prescribed period of time D_T.

As can be further appreciated, the prescribed period of time can be variably set by the manufacturer or the user, with or without manufacturers recommendation, depending on the contemplated use of the notebook computer or whether the user desires more speedier charge of the smart battery during the mode cycling. Further, the duration ratio R_P/Pcan be variably set by the manufacturer or the user, with or without the manufacturer's recommendation, depending on the contemplated use of the notebook computer or whether the user desires more speedier charge of the smart battery.

As described above, the user can use the power mode setting button to select one of MPM, BOM, POCM<b>1</b>, POCM<b>2</b>, POCM<b>3</b> and POCM<b>4</b>, which will be described hereinafter, or the controller <b>41</b> can automatically control the power management mode based on information provided by the thermal monitor <b>70</b> and smart battery <b>50</b> via the system bus SMBUS and the detection of the external power source via the power block <b>60</b>, which is compared with the information stored in the flash memory <b>80</b>.

The thermal monitor <b>70</b> continuously detects the internal temperature of the notebook system and transmits the value thereof to the controller <b>41</b>. The temperature T detected by the thermal monitor, sensor or temperature detection unit <b>70</b> is pre-classified into a low temperature value T_Lif the detected temperature falls within a first temperature range T₁, a medium temperature value T_Mif the detected temperature falls within a second temperature range T₂, and a high temperature value T_Hif the detected temperature falls within a third temperature range T₃, where T₁&lt;T₂&lt;T₃.

Similarly, the smart battery provides information regarding the residual amount RA of charge and the residual amount detected by the controller <b>41</b> is classified in to low, medium and high. A low residual amount RA_Lis determined if the RA is less than 20%, a medium residual amount RA_Mis determined if the RA is between 20% to 50%; and a high residual amount RA_His determined if the RA is greater than 50%.

The information regarding the detection of the external power source, temperature classification and residual amount classification is stored in the flash memory <b>80</b>. Further, the flash memory stores the power management mode operation for the controller based on such information. Further, the flash memory preferably stores D_Tand R_P/Ofor PCOM.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates the correlation of such information with the power management mode stored in the flash memory <b>80</b>. When the external power source is connected and the temperature values is T_Lor T_M, the controller <b>41</b> supports MPM when the RA is over 50% and the controller <b>41</b> supports POCM<b>1</b> when the RA is less than 50%. However, when the temperature value is T_H, the RA is irrelevant and the controller <b>41</b> supports POCM<b>2</b>.

In the instance of external power source disconnect, the power management mode vary between BOM and POCM in the preferred embodiment. When the temperature value is T_L, the controller <b>41</b> supports POCM<b>2</b> when the RA is RA_H, POCM<b>3</b> when the RA is RA_M, and BOM when the RA is RA_L. When the temperature value is T_M, the controller <b>41</b> supports POCM<b>3</b> when RA is RA_H, POCM<b>4</b> when RA is RA_M, and BOM when RA is RA_L. When the temperature value is T_H, the controller <b>41</b> supports POCM<b>4</b> when RA is RA_H, BOM when RA is RA_Mor RA_L.

As can be appreciated, the dominant and subordinate information used for power management mode can be varied. In the preferred embodiment, the temperature was used as the dominant information and the residual amount as the subordinate information. Such criteria can be switched, and further, both criteria need not be used. Moreover, the power management mode using MPM, BOM and POCM based on temperature, residual amount and external power detection is not limited to the particular format illustrated in FIG. <b>4</b>. Further, other addition or replacement information can be used to correlate the power management.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> illustrates a method for manually or automatically setting the power management mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the controller determines whether the user has selected manual power management mode by the user pressing the power mode setting button <b>90</b> (S<b>20</b>). Whenever the power mode setting button <b>90</b> is pressed, the controller <b>41</b> changes the power management mode between MPM, POCM<b>1</b>, POCM<b>2</b>, POCM<b>3</b>, POCM<b>4</b> and BOM in sequence or any other appropriate sequences for the power management mode. After selection by the user (S<b>21</b>) the power management mode is set (S<b>22</b>).

In addition, the user can manually sets the power management mode of the notebook system by software. For example, the user can select the control panel program or management program of the operating system of the notebook PC, Macintosh, or other type of computers to select and designate a desired power management mode of the notebook system among the maximum power mode, performance/optimization cycling mode, and battery-optimized mode, on the Power Management Applet Menu or BIOS Set-up Menu. The controller <b>41</b> sets the selected and designated power management mode as the power management mode of the notebook system, thereby manually setting the power management mode of the notebook system.

However, if the manual power management mode is not set, automatic setting of power management mode is selected and designated on the Power Management Applet Menu or BIOS Set-up Menu (S<b>30</b>). The controller <b>41</b> monitors the state of each condition for setting the power management mode inputted from the thermal monitor <b>70</b>, smart battery <b>50</b>, and power detector <b>60</b> (S<b>31</b>).

The power management mode appropriate for the monitored state is checked from the flash memory <b>80</b> (S<b>32</b>). For example, if the temperature of a certain particular portion of the computer inputted from the thermal monitor <b>70</b> is judged to be a medium level T_M, the residual amount of a charging power inputted from the smart battery <b>50</b> is judged to be over 50%, and an AC power is judged to be connected, the controller <b>41</b> determines that the power management mode appropriate for the state of the above conditions is POCM<b>1</b> based on the information stored in the flash memory <b>80</b>. Thereafter, the controller <b>41</b> sets the power management mode (S<b>33</b>) and automatically updates the power management mode (S<b>34</b>) until the manual management mode is set.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref> illustrates the details of step S<b>32</b>. First, the controller <b>41</b> checks the application of external power source based on the DC_....DETECT signal from the power detector <b>60</b> (S<b>100</b>). If the power source is detected, the controller <b>41</b> checks the temperature T provided by the thermal monitor via system bus SMBUS and check whether such information corresponds to T_L, T_Mor T_H(S<b>101</b>). If T=T_Lor T_M, the controller checks if RA&gt;50% or RA&lt;50% (S<b>102</b>). If RA&gt;50%, the power management mode is determined to be MPM (S<b>103</b>). However, if RA&lt;50%, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>1</b> (S<b>104</b>). On the other hand, if T=T_H, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>2</b> (S<b>105</b>).

If the external power source is not detected, the controller <b>41</b> checks the temperature T provided by the thermal monitor via system bus SMBUS and check whether such information corresponds to T_L, T_Mor T_H(S<b>110</b>).

If T=T_L, the controller checks the RA (S<b>111</b>). If RA=RA_H, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>2</b> (S<b>112</b>); if RA=RA_M, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>3</b> (S<b>113</b>); and if RA=RA_L, the power management mode is determined to be BOM (S<b>114</b>).

If T=T_M, the controller checks the RA (S<b>115</b>). If RA=RA_H, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>3</b> (S<b>116</b>); if RA=RA_M, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>4</b> (S<b>117</b>); and if RA=RA_L, the power management mode is determined to be BOM (S<b>118</b>).

If T=T_H, the controller checks the RA (S<b>119</b>). If RA=RA_H, the power management mode is determined to be POCM<b>4</b> (S<b>120</b>); if RA=RA_M, the power management mode is determined to be BOM; and if RA=RA_L, the power management mode is determined to be BOM (S<b>121</b>).

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A</figref> illustrates the details of automatically updating the power management mode of step S<b>33</b> in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> illustrates the details of automatically updating the power management mode of step S<b>33</b> in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A and 5B</figref>, the controller <b>41</b> determines whether there has been a change in power management mode to manual management by the user (S<b>200</b>). If so, the process returns to step S<b>21</b>. If not, the controller rechecks the present condition C₂for power management mode inputted from the thermal monitor <b>70</b>, smart battery <b>50</b> and power detector <b>60</b>, and compares the present condition C₂with the previous condition C₁(S<b>201</b>). If the condition has not changed, the process returns to step S<b>200</b>. However, if C₂does not equal C₁, two alternative process is used to change the power mode setting.

In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, the controller <b>41</b> allows the system to complete the power management mode of the previous condition (S<b>202</b>). After the completion, the controller <b>41</b> returns to step S<b>32</b> to change the power management. For example, if the previous condition C₁corresponded to the power management mode of POGM<b>1</b> and the change in condition C₂corresponding to POGM<b>2</b> was detected during the mid-interval, i.e., 50 ms, of the prescribed period of time D_T, i.e., 100 ms, the controller <b>41</b> changes the power management mode to POGM<b>2</b> after the 100 ms.

In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref>, the controller immediately stops the power management mode of the previous condition C₁and changes the power management mode to BOM and is paused in this mode for a preset period of time. Thereafter, the controller <b>41</b> changes to the power management mode corresponding to the new condition C₂by returning to step S<b>32</b>. For example, if the previous condition C₁corresponded to the power management mode of POGM<b>1</b> and the change in condition C₂corresponding to POGM<b>2</b> was detected during the mid-interval, i.e., 50 ms, the power management mode of POGM<b>1</b> is halted and changed to BOM and paused for a prescribed period of time. Thereafter, the controller <b>41</b> changes the power management mode to POGM<b>2</b>.

The present invention has various advantages. For example, power management is improved and there is more flexibility in the power management. Further, the user can manually set the power management or the power management can be automatically set and updated. Moreover, there is an increase in the number of power management modes, which increase the flexibility in power management, and the battery can be more quickly charged.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. For example, the present invention is not limited to notebook computer, but is readily applicable to all devices using a battery as an alternate power source, including cameras, camcorders, audio players, radios, cell phones, etc.