Reexamination Certificate
1994-06-22
2001-02-27
Kriess, Kevin A. (Department: 2764)
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193422
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a portable computer having a standby mode in which system operation can be halted in order to conserve power and, more particularly, relates to such a system having an idle mode which is a reduced power mode that can be entered and exited in a manner transparent to a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable computers of the type commonly referred to as laptop computers or notebook computers are becoming increasingly popular. An existing notebook computer has a standby mode in which certain peripherals are placed in a reduced power mode, including deactuation of the display, and in which the processor is halted in order to conserve power. While the standby capability has been entirely appropriate for its intended purposes, it has not been satisfactory in all respects.
In particular, when the system enters the standby mode, it is very visible to the user that the standby mode has been entered, because the computer turns the display off and halts program execution. Further, if the user presses a key or a push-button switch in order to exit standby mode and return to normal operation, a noticeable time interval usually elapses before the system is again running normally, which can be very annoying to a user.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a computer system having a further mode which provides a level of power reduction over a normal operational mode but which is effectively imperceptible to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects and purposes of the invention are met according to one form of the invention by providing a computer system which has a processor operable in a normal operational mode and in a reduced power mode, and an arrangement responsive to the absence of a predetermined event during a predetermined time interval for automatically switching the processor from the normal operational mode to the reduced power mode, the processor carrying out program execution in each of the normal operational mode and the reduced power mode.
Another form of the present invention involves the provision of a computer system which has a processor which can carry out program execution in each of first, second and third operational modes, the processor consuming less power in the second operational mode than in the first, and consuming less power in the third operational mode than in the second; an arrangement responsive to the absence of a first predetermined event during a first predetermined time interval for automatically switching the processor from its first operational mode to its second operational mode, and an arrangement responsive to the absence of both the first predetermined event and a second predetermined event different from the first predetermined event during a second predetermined time interval different from the first predetermined interval for automatically switching the processor from its second operational mode to its third operational mode.
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Belt Steven L.
Grabon Robert J.
Hack Norman M.
Lee Min E.
Pandya Chandrakant H.
Chaki Kakali
Katten Muchin & Zavis
Kriess Kevin A.
NEC Corporation
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