Accessory-Based Power Distribution

• Main Author: Daly Gregory M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.03.2017
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERATION; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

Accessory-based power distribution techniques are described. In one or more implementations, power available from a power system of a computing device is intelligently and adaptively distributed between device systems and accessories in accordance with a current usage scenario. To do so, a power manager operates to collect information regarding the current usage scenario, including system state information and a power draw level for accessory devices. Power available from the power system is then divided between the device systems and accessories in dependence upon the usage scenario, such as by establishing and applying power limits dynamically based on the usage scenario. For instance, as system power level for device subsystems may be reduced to provide more power for accessories in some scenarios. Likewise, power for accessories may be limited to enable a high performance mode for device operations in scenarios in which the system is operating near applied limits.