Method and apparatus for managing current consumption

A method of managing current consumption of a peripheral device coupled with a host system, the host system having a current supply limit available for supplying current to the peripheral device, the peripheral device operating in a low current consumption mode and a peak current consumption mode which is intermittent over time, the peripheral device drawing a low current in the low current consumption mode which is lower than the current supply limit and drawing a peak current in the peak current consumption mode which is higher than the current supply limit, the method comprising:

• sensing the current drawn by the peripheral device to determine whether the peripheral device is in the low current consumption mode or the peak current consumption mode;
• amplifying a signal generated in the sensing step;
• based on the amplifying step and the sensing step, storing excess energy from the host system in a reservoir during the low current consumption mode where the low current drawn by the peripheral device is lower than the current supply limit available from the host system;
• based on the amplifying step and the sensing step, directing, via a switch, the excess energy from the host system to the reservoir for storage during the low current consumption mode of the peripheral device;
• and
• allowing, via the switch, energy to be drawn from the reservoir to operate the peripheral device in the peak current consumption mode without drawing current from the host system exceeding the current supply limit.

A current consumption management system for managing current supplied from a host system, the system comprising:

• a peripheral device configured to draw current from the host system having a current supply limit available to the peripheral device, the peripheral device operating in a low current consumption mode and a peak current consumption mode which is intermittent over time, the peripheral device drawing a low current in the low current consumption mode which is lower than the current supply limit and drawing a peak current in the peak current consumption mode which is higher than the current supply limit;
• a sensing element configured to sense whether the peripheral device is operating in the low current consumption mode or in the peak current consumption mode;
• an amplifier coupled to the sensing element and configured to receive a signal from the sensing element wherein the signal indicates whether the peripheral device is in the low current consumption mode or in the peak current consumption mode;
• and
• a switch configured to be coupled with the peripheral device and the host system, the switch configured to direct excess energy from the host system for storage during the low current consumption mode where the low current drawn by the peripheral device is lower than the current supply limit available from the host system, and to allow energy to be drawn from the reservoir to operate the peripheral device in the peak current consumption mode without drawing current from the host system exceeding the current supply limit.