Method and a system for determining the power consumption in connection with an electronic device, and an electronic device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the power consumption in an electronic device, to which a peripheral device is connected, to which the power is supplied from the electronic device. At least a first maximum value and a second maximum value, higher than the first maximum value, are determined for the power consumption. Signaling between the electronic device and the peripheral device sets a maximum value for the power consumption of the peripheral device which is between said first and second maximum values. The invention also relates to an electronic device and a peripheral device, in which the method is applied.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 initiating determination of power consumption in an electronic device, to which a peripheral device is connected, and from which the power is supplied to the peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises a memory, said memory storing a default value and a limiting value for the power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 setting the power consumption of the peripheral device at a startup state to said default value; 
 reading from the memory at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value; and 
 setting the a maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, wherein the range includes said default value and said limiting value, 
 wherein information is transferred from the electronic device to the peripheral device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said limiting value is used as a highest allowable value for the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one content is stored in the peripheral device, for use in connection with the electronic device, wherein at a stage of storing the content, the power consumption set for of the peripheral device is a value corresponding to said limiting value, and at a stage of using the content, the power consumption set for of the peripheral device is a value corresponding to said default value. 
     
     
       4. The method according to the  claim 1 , wherein at least one clock signal is generated in the peripheral device and wherein the power consumption of the peripheral device is controlled by adjusting the frequency of at least one clock signal. 
     
     
       5. The method according to the  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device comprises at least one bus and that the power consumption of the peripheral device is controlled by controlling a width of said bus. 
     
     
       6. The method according to the  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is provided with two or more storage blocks controlled by controlling a number of storage blocks processed by the peripheral device substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 initiating determination of power consumption in an electronic device, to which a peripheral device is connected, and from which the power is supplied to the peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises a memory, said memory storing a default value and a limiting value for the power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 setting the power consumption of the peripheral device at a startup stage to said default value; 
 reading from the memory at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value; and 
 setting the a maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, wherein the range includes said default value and said limiting value, 
 wherein messages are transferred between the electronic device and the peripheral device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device to a value in a range from said default value to said limiting value, wherein the range includes said default value and said limiting value. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said limiting value is used as a highest allowable value for the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       9. A system comprising
 a peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises:
 a memory, said memory storing a default value and a limiting value for the power consumption of the peripheral device, and 
 means for setting the power consumption of the peripheral device at a startup stage to said default value and for setting a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, 
 wherein said range includes said default value and said limiting value, 
 wherein said limiting value is higher than said default value; and  
 
 an electronic device with means for connecting the peripheral device and, means for supplying power to the peripheral device, and means for determining power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the power consumption of the peripheral device is set at a startup stage to said default value, 
 wherein at least said limiting value which is higher than said default value is stored for the power consumption, 
 wherein the means for determining the power consumption comprise means for setting a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, said range including said default value and said limiting value, and 
 wherein the electronic device is configured to transfer information to the peripheral device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral device comprises means for generating at least one clock signal, and wherein the system comprises means for controlling the power consumption of the peripheral device by adjusting the frequency of said at least one clock signal. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the peripheral device comprises at least one bus, and 
 wherein the system comprises means for controlling the power consumption of the peripheral device by adjusting a bus width of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       12. The system according to the  claim 9 ,
 wherein the peripheral device is provided with two or more storage blocks, and 
 wherein the means for controlling setting the power consumption of the peripheral device comprise means for adjusting a number of storage blocks processed by the peripheral device substantially simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       13. The system according to the  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising means for performing mobile station functions. 
     
     
       15. An electronic device comprising:
 means for connecting a peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises a memory, said memory storing a default value and a limiting value for the power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 means for supplying power to the peripheral device; and 
 means for determining the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the power consumption of the peripheral device is set at a startup stage to said default value, 
 wherein at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value, is defined for the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the means for determining the power consumption of the peripheral device comprise means for setting a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, said range including said default value and said limiting value, and 
 wherein the means for supplying the power is configured to transfer information to the peripheral device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device according to  claim 15 , wherein it is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device according to  claim 16 , further comprising means for performing mobile station functions. 
     
     
       18. A peripheral device comprising:
 a memory storing a default value and a limiting value for power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 means for connecting the peripheral device to an electronic device for supplying power to the peripheral device, 
 wherein the power consumption of the peripheral device is set at a startup stage to said default value, 
 wherein at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value, is defined for the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the peripheral device comprises means for setting a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, said range including said default value and said limiting value, and 
 wherein the peripheral device is configured to receive information from the electronic device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       19. The peripheral device according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one content is stored in the peripheral device for use in connection with the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The peripheral device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 means for generating at least one clock signal and 
 means for controlling the power consumption of the peripheral device by frequency control of said at least one clock signal. 
 
     
     
       21. The peripheral device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 at least one bus and 
 means for controlling the power consumption of the peripheral device by controlling a bus width of said bus of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       22. The peripheral device according to the  claim 18 ,
 wherein the peripheral device is provided with two or more storage blocks, and 
 wherein the means for controlling the setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device comprise means for controlling a number of storage blocks processed by the peripheral device substantially simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       23. The peripheral device according to the  claim 18 , wherein said default value and at least one limiting value are stored in the peripheral device. 
     
     
       24. The peripheral device according to the  claim 18 , wherein said peripheral device is a MultiMediaCard™ peripheral device. 
     
     
       25. An electronic device comprising:
 a connector configured to connect to a peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device comprises a memory, said memory storing a default value and a limiting value for the power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 a power supply configured to supply power to the peripheral device; and 
 a power gauge configured to determine the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the power consumption of the peripheral device is set at a startup stage to said default value, 
 wherein at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value, is defined for the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the means for determining the power consumption comprise power gauge comprises means for setting a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value, which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, said range including said default value and said limiting value, and 
 wherein the electronic device is configured to transfer information to the peripheral device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device. 
 
     
     
       26. The electronic device according to  claim 25 , wherein it is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       27. The electronic device according to  claim 25 , further comprising a memory configured to store the default value and the limiting value. 
     
     
       28. A peripheral device comprising:
 a memory storing a default value and a limiting value for power consumption of the peripheral device; 
 a connector configured to connect the peripheral device to an electronic device for supplying power to the peripheral device, 
 wherein the a maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is set at a startup stage to said default value, 
 wherein at least said limiting value, which is higher than said default value, is defined for the power consumption of the peripheral device, 
 wherein the peripheral device comprises means for setting a the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to a value which is in a range from said default value to said limiting value, said range including said default value and said limiting value, and 
 wherein the peripheral device is configured to receive information from the electronic device for setting the maximum of the power consumption of the peripheral device, and 
 wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is configured to obtain the value, as indicated by the received information, and to set the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to the value. 
 
     
     
       29. The peripheral device according to the  claim 28 , wherein said default value and at least one limiting value are stored in the peripheral device. 
     
     
       30. The peripheral device of claim 28 further comprising:
 a clock generator,   wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is configured to adjust a frequency of the clock generator in response to the received information from the electronic device.   
     
     
       31. The peripheral device of claim 30, wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is configured to adjust the frequency of the clock generator to a first frequency corresponding to the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       32. The peripheral device of claim 28, wherein the peripheral device is a memory card. 
     
     
       33. The peripheral device of claim 28, wherein the limiting value is a highest possible power consumption of the peripheral device. 
     
     
       34. The peripheral device of claim 28 further comprising:
 a plurality of memory banks configured to include at least an active mode and a power-saving mode.   
     
     
       35. The peripheral device of claim 34, wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is configured to adjust the number of memory banks in the plurality of memory banks that are in the active mode in response to the received information from the electronic device. 
     
     
       36. The peripheral device of claim 35, wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device is further configured to increase the number of memory banks in the plurality of memory banks that are in the active mode in response to the received information from the electronic device indicating the value for the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device being greater than the default value. 
     
     
       37. The peripheral device of claim 28, wherein the default value is a lowest possible maximum power consumption for the peripheral device. 
     
     
       38. The peripheral device of claim 28, wherein the means for setting the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device comprises a processor operable to set the maximum power consumption of the peripheral device to the value. 
     
     
       39. The peripheral device of claim 32, wherein the memory card is a MultiMediaCard. 
     
     
       40. The peripheral device of claim 28, wherein the range includes values other than the default value and the limiting value.