Portable computer system with mechanism for accumulating mechanical energy for powering the system

A method of applying power to a portable computer circuit including a CPU and a memory, comprising:

• manually accumulating and storing mechanical energy in a mechanical energy accumulation device including a spring member having a position which varies as a function of accumulated and stored mechanical energy;
• converting mechanical energy accumulated in the energy accumulation device into electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to the main computer circuit;
• detecting the position of said spring member to detect a drop of mechanical energy accumulated and stored in the energy accumulation device before the accumulated mechanical energy stored in the mechanical energy accumulation device decreases to a lower limit level at which normal operation of the main computer circuit is ensured;
• outputting a signal to the main computer circuit when the detecting step detects that the mechanical energy accumulated and stored in the energy accumulation device is decreased below said lower limit level;
• and
• altering functioning of said CPU from a first operating state existing prior to receiving said signal output in said outputting step to a second operating state of reduced power consumption upon receiving said signal output in said outputting step.

A portable computer system comprising:

• a main computer circuit including a CPU and a memory;
• energy accumulation means for accumulating and storing mechanical energy, comprising a mechanical element for storing mechanical energy and which undergoes a change in position as a function of stored mechanical energy;
• energy affording means coupled to said energy accumulation means for affording mechanical energy to said energy accumulation, means through operation by a user;
• power supply means coupled between said energy accumulation means and said main computer circuit for converting said mechanical energy accumulated and stored in said energy accumulation means into electrical energy and supplying said electrical energy to said main computer circuit;
• energy depletion detecting means coupled to said mechanical element of said energy accumulation means for detecting a drop of said mechanical energy accumulated and stored in said energy accumulation means before said mechanical energy decreases to a lower limit level ensuring normal operation for said main computer circuit, comprising means for detecting the position of said mechanical element and outputting a signal representing said drop of said mechanical energy based on the detected position of said mechanical element;
• and
• means for varying a frequency of a CPU clock signal to reduce power consumption of said CPU on receiving said signal output from said energy depletion detecting means.

A method of applying power to a portable computer circuit including a CPU and a memory, comprising:

• manually accumulating and storing mechanical energy in a mechanical energy accumulation device including a mechanical element having a position which varies as a function of accumulated and stored mechanical energy;
• converting mechanical energy accumulated in the energy accumulation device into electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to the main computer circuit;
• detecting the position of said mechanical element to detect a drop of mechanical energy accumulated and stored in the energy accumulation device before the accumulated mechanical energy stored in the mechanical energy accumulation device decreases to a lower limit level at which normal operation of the main computer circuit is ensured;
• and
• outputting a signal to the main computer circuit when the detecting step detects that the mechanical energy accumulated and stored in the energy accumulation device is decreased below said lower limit level;
• and
• varying a clock frequency of said CPU to reduce power consumption of the CPU in response to outputting of said signal in said outputting step.