Patent ID: 7243243
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining power characteristics of a plurality of components within a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a processor to receive a user defined value representative of a desired length of time to run on battery power; a plurality of sensors, where each sensor is configured to sense at least one of voltage or current of a corresponding component of the plurality of components, at least one of the plurality of sensors to sense at least one of the voltage or current of the processor; an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to substantially simultaneously receive the voltages or currents sensed by the plurality of sensors and to convert the voltages or currents into digital signals to create a snapshot of current power usage by the components and current power usage by the processor at a substantially instantaneous point in time; and a keyboard and system controller in communication with the analog-to-digital converter to receive the digital signals, and determine power consumption characteristics for one or more of the plurality of components and the processor based on the received digital signals at the substantially instantaneous point in time, the keyboard and system controller providing the power consumption characteristics to the processor only when a condition is met, the processor to adaptively control operation of at least one of the components and the processor based on the power consumption characteristics received from the keyboard and system controller to ensure the battery power lasts for the desired length of time defined by the user.