Distributed power management system for battery operated personal computers

Abstract

A system for providing power to peripheral components associated with a personal computer is disclosed. A local power management unit is located at each controller for a peripheral component in order to provide a distributive power management arrangement. The local power management units communicate with an activity monitor provided in a central power management unit. The foregoing arrangement permits power to be maintained to the bus interface microchips at all times. Deactuation of a controller associated with a peripheral component is accomplished through inhibiting the clock signal produced by the local power management unit associated with the controller. By maintaining power to the bus interface microchips, power leakage through the bus interface microchips is eliminated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.