# US 9,435,836 B2 · Power consumption detector and motherboard as well as fan board using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,836 B2 - Document ID: US9435836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/836,010 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-05-01 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-25 - Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation; Inventec Corporation - Applicants: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation; Inventec Corporation - Inventors: Fang-Jie Chu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435836B2 ## CPC - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - G06F 11/3062: {where the monitored property is the power consumption (power management in a computing system G06F1/3203)} - G06F 11/3089: {Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents (software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466)} - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A power consumption detector includes a first resistor, an amplification unit, a voltage divider and a processing unit. A first end of the first resistor, coupled to the object, receives a current from the object during working. An amplification unit has a first input end coupled to a second end of the first resistor and a second input end receiving the working voltage. The amplification has an output end generating an amplification signal. A voltage divider, coupled to the output end of the amplification unit, is used for receiving the amplification signal and generating a voltage division signal. A processing unit, coupled to the voltage divider, is used for receiving the voltage division signal, calculating the current flowing through the first resistor and power consumption of the object upon the current and the working voltage. The power consumption detector is applied to a motherboard or a fan board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power consumption detector for detecting power consumption of an object to be detected, the object to be detected generating a working voltage during working, the power consumption detector comprising: a first resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the object to be detected and configured to receive a current generated by the object to be detected during working; an amplification unit having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, the first input end coupled to a second end of the first resistor, the second input end configured to receive the working voltage, and the output end configured to generate an amplification signal; a voltage divider coupled to the output end of the amplification unit, and the voltage divider configured to receive the amplification signal and perform voltage division on the amplification signal to generate a voltage division signal; and a processing unit coupled to the voltage divider, and the processing unit configured to receive the voltage division signal, calculate the current flowing through the first resistor according to a level of the voltage division signal, and calculate a power consumption of the object to be detected according to the current and the working voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power consumption detector according to claim 1, wherein the voltage divider comprises: a second resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the output end of the amplification unit and configured to receive the amplification signal, and the second end configured to output the voltage division signal; and a third resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second end of the second resistor, and the second end coupled to a ground end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power consumption detector according to claim 1, wherein the amplification unit is an Operation Amplifier (OPA). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power consumption detector according to claim 1, wherein a voltage value of the amplification signal output by the amplification unit is smaller than a voltage value of the working voltage of the amplification unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power consumption detector according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises a register configured to store the power consumption of the object to be detected. ### Claim 6 A motherboard, comprising a power consumption detector for detecting power consumption of an object to be detected, the object to be detected generating a working voltage during working, the power consumption detector comprising: a first resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the object to be detected and configured to receive a current generated by the object to be detected during working; an amplification unit having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, the first input end coupled to a second end of the first resistor, the second input end configured to receive the working voltage, and the output end configured to generate an amplification signal; a voltage divider coupled to the output end of the amplification unit, and the voltage divider configured to receive the amplification signal and perform voltage division on the amplification signal to generate a voltage division signal; and a processing unit coupled to the voltage divider, and the processing unit configured to receive the voltage division signal, calculate the current flowing through the first resistor according to a level of the voltage division signal, and calculate a power consumption of the object to be detected according to the current and the working voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The motherboard according to claim 6, wherein the voltage divider comprises: a second resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the output end of the amplification unit and configured to receive the amplification signal, and the second end configured to output the voltage division signal; and a third resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second end of the second resistor, and the second end coupled to a ground end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The motherboard according to claim 6, wherein the amplification unit is an Operation Amplifier (OPA). ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The motherboard according to claim 6, wherein a voltage value of the amplification signal output by the amplification unit is smaller than a voltage value of the working voltage of the amplification unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The motherboard according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit comprises a register configured to store the power consumption of the object to be detected. ### Claim 11 A fan board, comprising a power consumption detector for detecting power consumption of an object to be detected, the object to be detected generating a working voltage during working, the power consumption detector comprising: a first resistor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the object to be detected and configured to receive a current generated by the object to be detected during working; an amplification unit having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, the first input end coupled to a second end of the first resistor, the second input end configured to receive the working voltage, and the output end configured to generate an amplification signal; a voltage divider coupled to the output end of the amplification unit, and the voltage divider configured to receive the amplification signal and perform voltage division on the amplification signal to generate a voltage division signal; and a processing unit coupled to the voltage divider, and the processing unit configured to receive the voltage division signal, calculate the current flowing through the first resistor according to a level of the voltage division signal, and calculate a power consumption of the object to be detected according to the current and the working voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fan board according to claim 11, wherein the voltage divider comprises: a second resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the output end of the amplification unit and configured to receive the amplification signal, and the second end configured to output the voltage division signal; and a third resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second end of the second resistor, and the second end coupled to a ground end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fan board according to claim 11, wherein the amplification unit is an Operation Amplifier (OPA). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The fan board according to claim 11, wherein a voltage value of the amplification signal output by the amplification unit is smaller than a voltage value of the working voltage of the amplification unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The fan board according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit comprises a register configured to store the power consumption of the object to be detected.