Apple just filed a patent for a simple, but rather ingenious invention that could cut overall power consumption in any electronic device that depends on a power supply unit (PSU). Apple thinks of a much more complex PSU for the future, which will effectively cut the power draw to zero from a PSU when an electronic device is shut off.
It is a very common assumption that a PSU does not pull power out of a wall socket when an electronic device is turned off. The fact, however, is that a PSU typically continues to draw power and convert alternating current (AC) to regulated direct current (DC), even when a connected device is not active. Apple engineers a relatively simple idea how to turn the PSU completely off – it almost seems to be the obvious thought when reading through the patent filing.
According to the patent application #20110215656, Apple creates an intelligent PSU by splitting the PSU circuitry into the normal regulating circuitry portion as well as a low-power monitoring or control circuitry, which consists of extra wiring, a small battery as well as a microprocessor. The extra circuitry is used to monitor whether there is activity on the side of the electronic device or not, which is determined by sending data back and forth. If there is data flow, the control circuitry will enable the regulating circuitry; if there is no data flow, it will decouple the regulating circuitry and prevent it from drawing power.
To power the control circuitry, Apple uses integrated and rechargeable “power storage” that is charged during normal power flow to the AC-DC unit. While the patent does not explicitly mention another charging process, it is reasonable to assume that the circuitry would be intelligent enough to charge its battery through the wall socket before running out of power, even if a connected electronic device is turned off.
This PSU idea, which was filed as patent on April 29, 2011, is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that reminds me of Apple’s magnetic power plug that is a seemingly small step, yet has the potential to make your life much more convenient. A PSU itself may not draw much power, but if you consider how many PSUs your household or office uses, those small improvements could amount to significant power savings down the line.
I am not aware of any reliable information how much power the average PSU draws when a device is turned, off, but Apple’s inventions is even more interesting if you leave your electronic devices in standby mode: According to the patent, the control circuitry would even be able to limit the regulating circuitry when a device is, in fact in standby mode and requires minimal power. Standby power, however, is one of the huge culprits of wasted power usage in our lives as desktop LCDs can use about 0.2 watts when in standby, a PC 1.5 watts, a broadband router 2 watts, a cable modem 5 watts, and computer speakers 7.5 watts.
Add everything up and limiting the power usage or turning your electronics off suddenly makes a lot of sense.
Ethan McKinney in Business on September 09
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