Power switch control circuitry isolating or coupling a system power bus of a computer based on a result state of a logical operation
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsRobert C. Brooks, Patrick L. Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electronic circuits and methods are provided for conserving power within computers and other apparatus. A logic circuit performs a logical operation on a plurality of variables thus deriving a corresponding output. The output is used to drive and maintain an open or closed state of an electronic switch, accordingly. The electronic switch is disposed between a source of electrical energy and a system power buss of a computer. The computer can assume very low power, full power and other respective operating modes in accordance with the present state of the electronic switch.
Claims15
An apparatus, comprising:
- a control circuit to drive a control signal in accordance with a logical operation on a plurality of variables, at least some of the variables respectively corresponding to a present state of:
- a manual switch;
- a power rail status signal;
- an input/output signal of a computer system board;
- a sleep-state signal of a computer;
- and
- the control signal;
- an electronic switch to isolate a system power buss of a computer from a source of electrical potential in accordance with a first result state of the logical operation;
- and
- the electronic switch to couple the system power buss to the source of electrical potential in accordance with a second result state of the logical operation.
A method performed at least in part by an electronic circuit, comprising:
- performing a logical operation on at least five variables;
- electrically isolating a system power buss of a computer from a source of electrical potential in accordance with a first result state of the logical operation;
- and
- electrically coupling the system power buss of the computer to the source of electrical potential in accordance with a second result state of the logical operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.