Power saving for a portable information processing apparatus using switch that shuts off power to sub memory block when in battery mode and supplies power when in AC mode

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a memory including a main memory block and a sub memory block, each of said main and sub memory blocks configured with a plurality of synchronous DRAMs;
• a clock generator configured to generate clock signals and to send said clock signals to each of said plurality of synchronous DRAMs;
• an AC/DC converter configured to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage which is supplied to said memory;
• a power source detection mechanism configured to detect whether said apparatus operates with said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage and to generate a detection signal when detecting said battery DC voltage;
• a selector configured to receive said detection signal from said power source detection mechanism, and to supply said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage to said main memory block;
• and
• a switch configured to receive said clock signals from said clock generator, to supply said clock signals to said sub memory, and to shut off a supply of said clock signals to said sub memory block upon receiving said detection signal so that said battery DC voltage is cut off in a circuit of said synchronous DRAMs of said sub memory block.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a memory device including a main memory block and sub memory block;
• means for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage which is supplied to said memory device;
• means for supplying a battery DC voltage which is supplied to said memory device;
• means for detecting whether said apparatus operates with said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage and for generating a detection signal when detecting said battery DC voltage;
• selector means for receiving said detection signal from said detecting means, and for supplying said converted AC voltage or said battery DC voltage to said main memory block:
• and
• switch means for receiving an output from said selector and to receive said detection signal, for supplying said converted AC to DC voltage to said sub memory block and for shutting off a supply of said battery DC voltage to said sub memory block when receiving said detection signal.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a memory including a main memory block and a sub memory block, each of said main and sub memory blocks configured with a plurality of synchronous DRAMs;
• means for generating clock signals and sending said clock signals toe ach of said plurality of synchronous DRAMS of said main and sub memory blocks of said memory device;
• means for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage which is supplied to said memory device;
• means for supplying a battery DC voltage which is supplied to said memory device;
• means for detecting whether said apparatus operates with said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage and for generating a detection signal when detecting said battery DC voltage;
• and
• selector means for receiving said detection signal from said power source detection mechanism, and for continuously supplying said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage to said main memory block;
• and
• switching means for receiving said clock signals from said clock generating means, for supplying said clock signals to said sub memory block, for shutting off a supply of said clock signals to said sub memory block when receiving said detection signal so that said battery DC voltage is cut off in a circuit of said synchronous DRAMs of said sub memory block.

A method of power saving in an information processing apparatus with a memory including a main memory block and a sub memory block, and AC/DC converter configured to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage which is supplied to said memory, and a built-in battery configured to provide a battery DC voltage which is supplied to said memory, comprising the steps of:

• detecting whether said apparatus operates with said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage;
• supplying said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage to said main memory block:
• supplying, via a switch, said converted AC to DC voltage to said sub memory block;
• and
• shutting off via the switch a supply of said battery DC voltage to said sub memory block when a condition that said apparatus operates with said battery DC voltage is detected.

A method of power saving in an information processing apparatus with a memory including a main memory block and a sub memory block, each of said main and sub memory blocks being configured with a plurality of

• synchronous DRAMs, and AC/DC converter configured to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage which is supplied to said memory, and a built-in battery configured to provide a battery DC voltage which is supplied to said memory, comprising the steps of:
• sending clock signals to each of said plurality of synchronous DRAMs of said main and sub memories of said memory;
• detecting whether said apparatus operates with said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage;
• and
• supplying said converted AC to DC voltage or said battery DC voltage to said main memory block;
• supplying said converted AC to DC voltage to said sub memory block;
• and
• shutting off via a switch a supply of said clock signals to said sub memory block when a condition that said apparatus operates with said battery DC voltage is detected.