Power saving secondary processing unit for an electronic device
View Patent ↗The instant invention broadly contemplates an energy saving subsystem comprising a secondary CPU that utilizes less power than a main CPU, thereby allowing an electronic device (e.g. a laptop PC) having the secondary CPU to use less power and run for longer periods of time on a limited power supply. Thus, the invention permits the electronic device to be utilized for extended periods and extends the battery life.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a central processing unit card inserted into a base system as add-on, the central processing unit card comprising:
a secondary central processing unit; and
a secondary memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit;
wherein the secondary central processing unit is configured to execute a secondary operating system that operates the base system of the apparatus at a lower power level than a main central processing unit configured to execute a first operating system of the base system;
wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and secondary operating systems share inputs and outputs via input/output switching but do not share a memory.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a system memory of the base system is not accessible to the secondary central processing unit.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit card further comprises at least one of: input/output switches; input/output connectors; a wireless controller; and a wireless antenna connector.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit card is configured to execute the secondary operating system responsive to a pre-boot instruction.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one connector that enables connection of additional wiring to couple the central processing unit card with the base system of the apparatus.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary memory is only accessible to the secondary central processing unit.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base system comprises an optical drive.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery configured to power the apparatus;
wherein operating the base system of the apparatus at a lower power level increases a life of the battery.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit card is optimized for at least one base system function.
11. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a base system, the base system comprising:
a main central processing unit; and
a system memory accessible by the main central processing unit, the main central processing unit being configured to execute a first operating system; and
(b) a central processing unit card inserted into the base system as add-on, the central processing unit card comprising:
a secondary central processing unit; and
a secondary memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit, the secondary central processing unit being configured to execute a secondary operating system;
wherein the secondary operating system operates a base system of the apparatus at a lower power level than the first operating system;
wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first and secondary operating systems share inputs and outputs via input/output switching but do not share a memory.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the system memory is not accessible to the secondary central processing unit.
14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the central processing unit card further comprises at least one of: input/output switches; input/output connectors; a wireless controller; and a wireless antenna connector.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the secondary operating system of the central processing unit card is configured to execute the secondary operating system responsive to a pre-boot instruction.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
at least one connector that enables connection of additional wiring to couple the central processing unit card with the base system of the apparatus.
17. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the secondary memory is only accessible to the secondary central processing unit.
18. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one component of the base system comprises an optical drive.
19. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a base system comprising:
a main central processing unit; and
a system memory accessible by the main central processing unit, the main central processing unit being configured to execute a first operating system; and
(b) a subsystem coupled with the base system; the subsystem comprising:
a secondary central processing unit card inserted into the base system as add-on; and
a subsystem memory accessible by the secondary central processing unit card, the secondary central processing unit being configured to execute a secondary operating system;
wherein the subsystem is configured to selectively control the apparatus rather than the base system in response to a pre-boot instruction;
wherein the secondary operating system that operates the base system at a lower power level operates a main display of the apparatus to display data associated with a base system application run by the secondary operating system.