System power management based on motion detection
AssigneeLogitech Europe S.A.
InventorsSergio Maggi, Paul McAlpine, Remy Zimmerman, Jean-Michel Chardon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power management component in a computer system includes an imaging device operatively connected to a computer. When the computer has entered a low power state, the imaging device can continue to operate to detect motion in its field of view. When “enough” motion is detected, the imaging device can signal the computer in a manner as to transition the computer to a full power state. In another aspect of the present invention, the imaging device can determine that there has been insufficient motion for a predetermined period of time and initiate a transition of the computer to a low power state.
Claims25
A method for controlling power in a computer comprising a data processing unit, a memory, system logic, and a system bus to which the processing unit, the memory, and the system logic are connected, the computer being in a low power state, the method comprising:
- capturing one or more images in a digital camera, the digital camera including a camera memory in which the images are stored;
- detecting a presence of motion from among the images stored in the camera memory;
- and
- if motion is detected among the images, then sending a first signal to the system logic that will cause the computer to operate in a full power state.
A computer having a power control capability comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
- a memory;
- a system bus to which the CPU and the memory are connected, whereby the memory can be accessed by the CPU when the CPU executes program instructions;
- first system logic operative to selectively put the computer into a full power operating state or a low power state;
- an image capture component;
- and
- second system logic in communication with the image capture component and connected to the system bus, the second system logic operative to initiate a wake-up sequence to put the computer into the full power state in response to receiving a first signal from the image capture component,
- the image capture component comprising a processing component, an image memory, and a connection to the system bus,
- the image memory being operable to store plural images;
- the processing component being operative to:
- perform motion detection on images stored in the image memory;
- and
- if motion is detected among the images, then generate the first signal so that it can be transmitted to the second system logic.
A method for controlling power in a computer comprising:
- monitoring activity level in the computer;
- transitioning a power level of the computer from a full power state to a low power state;
- and
- subsequent to the transitioning, operating an image capture device to:
- capture a plurality of images;
- analyze some of the images to detect motion among the images;
- and
- if motion is detected among some of the images, then transition the power level of the computer to the full power state by sending a signal from the image capture device to the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.