# US 10,312,713 B2 · Power distribution controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,713 B2 - Document ID: US10312713B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/248,593 - Filed: 2016-08-26 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-26 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Yazan Aldehayyat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312713B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/1635: {Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter} - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)} - H02J 7/933: {the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters} - G06F 1/3212: Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level - G06F 1/324: by lowering clock frequency - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The described technology includes a power distribution controller configured to control functioning of a first power source configured to supply power to a first component and to a second component and a second power source configured to supply power to the second component. The power distribution controller sets an upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component based on average level of charge at the second power source over a predetermined amount of time. The power distribution controller reduces the amount of power loss due to spikes in current from the first power source to the second component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a first power source configured to supply power to a first component and to a second component; a second power source configured to supply power to the second component; and a power distribution controller configured to set an upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component based on average level of charge at the second power source over a predetermined amount of time, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to set the upper limit of current supplied from the first power source to the second component such that current transferred between the first component and the second components is kept substantially equal to a current corresponding an average power consumption of the second component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is a base of a laptop computer and the second component is a top of the laptop computer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to update the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component on a periodic basis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to increase the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component in response to a decrease in the average level of charge at the second power source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to decrease the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component in response to an increase in the average level of charge at the second power source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to update the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component at any given time t equal to sum of (1) a percentage change in the charge at the second power source in a predetermined time period preceding t multiplied by an empirically determined constant (k) and (2) currently set upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller further configured to update the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component at any given time t equal to sum of (1) a function of percentage change in the charge at the second power source in a predetermined time period preceding t and (2) currently set upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the function is an empirically determined function being at least one of (1) an integrative function, (2) a differential function, (3) a quadratic function, and (4) a log function. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to increase the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component if the charge level of the second power source is below a first predetermined level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to set the first predetermined level to a charge level of the first power source if the charge level of the first power source is below a second predetermined level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power distribution controller is further configured to set an upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component based on a historical value of charge at the second power source measured at a predetermined historic time. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: determining an average level of charge at a second power source over a predetermined amount of time, the second power source being configured to supply power to a second component; determining an upper limit of current from a first power source to the second component based on the average level of charge at a second power source over a predetermined amount of time, the first power source being configured to supply power to a first component; and limiting current drawn from the first power source to the second component to the upper limit of current from a first power source to the second component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising updating the upper limit of current on a periodic basis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising increasing the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component in response to a decrease in the average level of charge at the second power source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising decreasing the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component in response to an increase in the average level of charge at the second power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component such that the current transferred between the first component and the second components is kept substantially equal to a current corresponding an average power consumption of the second component. ### Claim 17 A power distribution controller comprising: a memory; one or more processing units; and an upper limit determination module stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the upper limit determination module configured to set an upper limit of current supplied from a first power source to a component based on an average level of charge at a second power source over a predetermined amount of time and update the upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component at any given time t equal to sum of (1) a percentage change in the charge at the second power source in a predetermined time period preceding t multiplied by an empirically determined constant (k) and (2) currently set upper limit of current from the first power source to the second component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The power distribution controller of claim 17, further comprising a relative change determination module configured to increase the upper limit of current from the first power source to the component in response to decline in the average level of charge at the second power source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The power distribution controller of claim 18, wherein the relative change determination module is further configured to decrease the upper limit of current from the first power source to the component in response to increase in the average level of charge at the second power source.