Method and apparatus for measuring power in mobile devices to minimize impact on power consumption

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016169948-A1
Application number	US-201414566560-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device is provided. A voltage is sensed across a sense resistor and the current is then calculated by dividing the sensed voltage by the value of the sense resistor. The method incorporates a buffer for storing the sensed voltage and calculated current. In addition, the buffer permits the measurements to be taken while the electronic device is in a sleep state. The measurements that may be taken include voltage, current, and power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:
sensing a voltage across a sense resistor; and calculating a current based on the sensed voltage.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: measuring a voltage of at least one sense line.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the voltage measured is a power rail voltage.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing a measured analog-to-digital code into a buffer and converting the stored sensed voltage to a calculated current.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
collecting voltage, current, and power measurements when the electronic device is in a sleep state.

6 . An apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:
an embedded power measurement system; a target processor; and at least one series sense element.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the embedded power management system comprises:
a processor and digital logic circuits; a memory buffer; at least one analog to digital converter (ADC); and at least one multiplexer.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the EPM system is powered by a battery of the electronic device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the EPM is powered by an external power source.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the external power source is a battery.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the EPM system is powered by an external power source connected via a universal serial bus (USB).

12 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the EPM includes a buffer.

13 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the EPM is provided on a daughtercard that is external to the electronic device.

14 . An apparatus for measuring power in an electronic device, comprising:
means for sensing a voltage across a sense resistor; and means for calculating a current based on the sense voltage.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for measuring a voltage of at least one sense line.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the means for measuring a voltage measures a power rail voltage.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for storing the sensed voltage; and means for storing the calculated current.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for collecting voltage, current, and power measurement when the electronic device is in a sleep state.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Thielen Joshua
• Stroz Glenn
• King Lawrence
• Chan Jason
• Wang Shuangquan

Classifications

• G01R21/133 Primary

  by using digital technique · CPC title

• H04W52/0251 Primary

  using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity · CPC title

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title

• H04W52/0261

  managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level · CPC title