Power Manager Adjusting Component Load to Prevent Voltage Droops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face challenges in managing power consumption to prevent voltage droops and shutdowns when the battery's power supply is exceeded, particularly due to factors like temperature and battery health, leading to undesirable user experiences such as brownouts or device shutdowns.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device adjusts power consumption by modifying the usage of components like CPU load, GPU speed, display brightness, and wireless transmission levels, based on estimated demand and available power, using a power manager that periodically updates power consumption levels and prioritizes adjustments to minimize user experience impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the electronic device draws more power than the battery can provide, then the device can operate at higher performance levels, but voltage droops occur causing brownout or shutdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power manager performs preliminary actions by estimating power consumption before components execute their intended operations. It proactively determines whether available power exceeds expected consumption and prevents power excess conditions before they occur by adjusting component power usage in advance, rather than reacting after voltage droops or shutdowns happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the device reduces power consumption to stay within battery capabilities, then voltage stability is maintained, but user experience may be degraded due to noticeable performance reductions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The power manager applies partial action by reducing power consumption only to the extent necessary to prevent power excess conditions. It selectively adjusts power usage of specific components based on their contribution to total consumption and their impact on user experience, rather than uniformly reducing all power consumption. This maintains voltage stability while minimizing degradation of user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the device monitors and adjusts power consumption in real-time, then power availability is maintained within safe limits, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower availability managementVSAvoidpower management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power manager implements self-service by autonomously monitoring power consumption, estimating expected power usage, comparing it with available power from the power source, and adjusting component power usage without requiring external intervention. The system automatically determines when power consumption exceeds availability and takes corrective actions, reducing the need for complex external power management infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10871818B1Component power consumption management determining whether the power availability of the power source exceeds the expected power consumption

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 APPLE INC

AI summary

A method of an electronic device that includes a power source is disclosed. The method determines a health of the power source, a temperature of the power source, and a state of charge of the power source. The method then sets a performance state cap for the electronic device based on at least the health of the power source.