Balancing power supply and demand
A method and apparatus to balance adapter power supply and computing device power demand. In one embodiment, power to/from battery pack(s) maybe controlled by adjusting the output voltage of the power adapter via the current input to the power adapter through a feedback pin to meet power demand of electrical loads. Another embodiment provides a way to adjust the activities of the electrical loads such that neither adapter power rating nor the electrical load power limit is exceeded while avoiding system shutdown.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a power monitor module to adjust output voltage of a power adapter by modifying control current to a power adapter in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power module modifies the control current to the power adapter through a feedback pin.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power adapter is external to the computing device.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the feedback pin to detect power rating of the power adapter.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power module is implemented in the computing device.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output voltage of the power adapter is variable and directly controlled by the control current through the feedback pin.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising to modify power consumption of electrical loads.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the electrical loads are coupled to the computing device.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical load power consumption does not exceed power rating of the adapter.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the power module manages power demand for the electrical loads.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a I/O hub coupled to the power module, wherein the I/O hub to request adjustment of power to the electrical loads.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electrical load to modify power consumption.
13 . A method comprising:
controlling the output voltage of a power adapter by modifying control current to a power adapter through a feedback pin in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising detecting power rating of adapter through the feedback pin.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing adapter output voltage by modifying current through the feedback pin.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising reducing adapter output current when power demand approaches adapter power rating.
17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising reducing adapter output voltage when adapter power rating is exceeded.
18 . The method of claim 17 adjusting charging/discharging activities of battery packs to supply power to electrical loads to satisfy power demand.
19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising managing power demand of the electrical loads.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting power demand of the electrical loads.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising providing electrical load power information from the power module to the computing device.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising providing system power limit to the power module through a system management controller.
23 . The method of claim 22 further comprising adjusting electrical load power demand through an input/output hub.
24 . A system comprising:
a nonvolatile memory device coupled to a computing device to store data; and
a power monitor module to modify control current to a power adapter in accordance with power consumption of a computing device.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the power module to modify power consumption of electrical loads.
26 . The system of claim 25 wherein the computing device comprises volatile memory selected from a group comprising RAM, DRAM, and SRAM.
27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the nonvolatile memory device is selected from a group comprising a hard drive and a floppy disk drive.