Embedded Controller Standby Power Cutoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices face challenges in determining which electronic devices are consuming excessive power during standby mode, leading to battery drain, as adding monitoring circuits for each device increases space and cost.

Innovation Solution

An embedded controller monitors battery charge at fixed intervals, identifies active devices drawing power, and cuts off their supply when a threshold is reached, without requiring additional hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If monitoring circuits are added for each electronic device to determine power consumption, then power consumption monitoring precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption monitoring precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power monitoring function into a single shared monitoring circuit that measures total power consumption from the battery. Instead of having separate monitoring circuits for each electronic device, the system combines all power measurements into one centralized monitoring point, thereby maintaining measurement capability while reducing overall device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The embedded controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors total power consumption, determines which electronic devices are active based on that monitoring, and controls power supply cutoff. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring circuits for each device, reducing complexity while maintaining monitoring precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If monitoring circuits are added for each electronic device to determine power consumption, then power consumption monitoring precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption monitoring precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If electronic devices remain active in standby mode to allow background activity, then adaptability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of electronic devices based on real-time power consumption monitoring. During standby mode, the embedded controller continuously monitors power usage and automatically cuts off power to active devices when a threshold is exceeded, enabling the system to adapt between maintaining device activity and conserving battery power based on current conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The embedded controller implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring power consumption from the battery and using that information to control power supply to electronic devices. When power consumption exceeds a predetermined threshold during standby mode, the controller receives feedback about the excessive usage and responds by cutting off power to active devices, thereby managing the trade-off between adaptability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If electronic devices remain active in standby mode to allow background activity, then adaptability is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11644889B2Power supply cut-off in standby mode

Publication Date: 2023.05.09 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Examples of computing devices for cutting-off power supply of an electronic device in a standby mode are described herein. In an example, a computing device may include a battery and an embedded controller. The embedded controller may determine a charge stored in the battery at a time interval when the computing device is in a standby mode. Upon determining that the charge stored in the battery is below by a threshold value, the embedded controller may retrieve activity data from a memory of the computing device. The activity data may include a list of electronic devices that draw power from the battery of the computing device. The embedded controller may cut-off power supply of an active electronic device from the list of electronic devices.