Scheme capable of estimating available power range according to extra power range and employing available power range as reference of performing power throttling upon a system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299179-A1
Application number	US-201514932987-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for estimating an available power range as a reference for performing power throttling upon a system includes: estimating an extra power range that is instantaneously available for the system according to at least one characteristic information of a power source that is used for providing energy for the system; and, calculating the available power range for the system according to the extra power range and a currently consumed power range so that the system controls a behavior of the system according to the available power range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for estimating an available power range as a reference for performing power throttling upon a system, comprising:
estimating an extra power range that is instantaneously available for the system according to at least one characteristic information of a power source that is used for providing energy for the system; and calculating the available power range for the system according to the extra power range and a currently consumed power range so that the system controls a behavior of the system according to the available power range.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
dynamically updating the at least one characteristic information; and dynamically estimating the extra power range according to the updated at least one characteristic information; and dynamically calculating the available power range, so as to make the system dynamically control the behavior of the system.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of estimating the extra power range for the system comprises:
estimating an extra output current that is instantaneously available for the system according to the at least one characteristic information; and
the step of calculating the available power range for the system comprises:
calculating an available output current provided for the system by summing up the extra output current and an output current currently provided to the system.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the power source comprises a battery, and the at least one characteristic information comprises a voltage provided from the battery and an alternating-current (AC) resistance of the battery.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of estimating the extra current instantaneously available for the system comprises:
calculating the extra output current according to the voltage provided from the battery, the AC resistance of the battery, and a specific voltage required by the system.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
configuring the specific voltage as a minimum voltage required by the system to operate.

7 . A controller for estimating an available power range as a reference for performing power throttling upon a system, comprising:
a determining circuit, configured for estimating an extra power range that is instantaneously available for the system according to at least one characteristic information of a power source that is used for providing energy for the system, and for calculating the available power range for the system according to the extra power range and a currently consumed power range so that the system controls a behavior of the system according to the available power range.

8 . The controller of claim 7 , further comprising:
an acquiring circuit, coupled to the determining circuit, configured for dynamically updating the at least one characteristic information; wherein the determining circuit is arranged for dynamically estimating the extra power range for the system according to the updated at least one characteristic information, and for dynamically calculating the available power range for the system, so as to make the system dynamically control the behavior of the system.

9 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the determining circuit is arranged for estimating an extra output current that is instantaneously available for the system according to according to the at least one characteristic information, and for calculating an available output current provided for the system by summing up the extra output current and an output current currently provided to the system.

10 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the power source comprises a battery, and the at least one characteristic information comprises a voltage provided from the battery and an alternating-current (AC) resistance of the battery.

11 . The controller of claim 10 , wherein the determining circuit is arranged for calculating the extra output current according to the voltage provided from the battery, the AC resistance of the battery, and a specific voltage required by the system.

12 . The controller of claim 11 , wherein the specific voltage is a minimum voltage required by the system to operate.

13 . A computer program product for estimating an available power range as a reference for performing power throttling upon a system and comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured to:
estimating an extra power range that is instantaneously available for the system according to at least one characteristic information of a power source that is used for providing energy for the system; and calculating the available power range for the system according to the extra power range and a currently consumed power range so that the system controls a behavior of the system according to the available power range.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Wu Jui-Chi
• Tsai Tsung-Ju
• Lee Chi-Ming

Classifications

• G06F1/3212 Primary

  Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level · CPC title

• G01R21/06 Primary

  by measuring current and voltage (G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/26 Primary

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• Y02D10/00

  Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management · CPC title

• G06F1/3287

  by switching off individual functional units in the computer system · CPC title