Dock Power Delivery Display for Battery Status in Low-Power States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of portable information handling systems, such as laptops or smartphones, cannot obtain power delivery information, like battery charge levels, when the device is powered off or in a low power state, making it difficult to monitor battery status without waking up the system.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows power delivery data, including battery charge level, to be displayed on external displays connected to a docking station even when the information handling system is powered off or in a low power state, using a power delivery controller and a display manager to generate and display images or text on connected displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the information handling system is powered off or in a low power state, then energy consumption is reduced, but power delivery information becomes inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the power delivery data retrieval function from the main information handling system by implementing it in the docking station's embedded controller. This allows the IHF to remain in a low-power state while the docking station independently retrieves and displays power delivery information through a separate control path that does not require the IHF to be fully operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station acts as an intermediary between the power source and the user. It retrieves power delivery data from the IHF through the power delivery interface even when the IHF is powered off or in a low power state, and presents this information on its display. This intermediary approach allows information access without requiring the IHF to be fully operational.
2Loss of information
If the system is kept in a working power state to access power delivery data, then information accessibility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the functionality between the IHF and the docking station. The docking station handles the task of retrieving and displaying power delivery information independently, allowing the IHF to remain in a low-power state. This segmentation eliminates the need for the entire IHF system to consume full power just to display battery status.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded controller in the docking station performs a partial action by retrieving only the necessary power delivery information (battery charge level, charging status) without requiring the IHF to be fully booted or operational. This selective data retrieval achieves the goal of information accessibility with minimal energy impact.
3Loss of information
If the information handling system is docked to retrieve power delivery data, then data accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a physical connection interface for power and data transfer, and as an independent information display device. The embedded controller in the docking station can retrieve and display power delivery information from any docked IHF, making the solution universally applicable without requiring system-specific modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station's embedded controller automatically retrieves power delivery information when an IHF is docked, without requiring user intervention or complex configuration. The system self-services by autonomously establishing communication through the power delivery interface and presenting the information on the display, reducing the perceived complexity for the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A system requests power delivery data from an information handling system docked to a docking station, and receives a response that includes the power delivery data. If the information handling system is not in a working power state, then the system generates an image associated with the power delivery data.