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Microsoft patents chip power control for plugged-in laptops

Microsoft has filed a patent for a system on chip that monitors power from both a wall adapter and a battery. It detects when a laptop is plugged in but not actively charging, then adjusts the power limit to manage performance and heat.

Why it mattersThis helps computer makers fine-tune how much power a processor uses when connected to a wall outlet, potentially improving battery life or cooling efficiency.

In the filing’s own words

The described technology provides a system on chip (SOC) including a charger configured to receive power from a power supply unit (PSU), a rechargeable battery, a PSU power measurement unit configured to determine current level I_PSU output from the PSU and a voltage level Vpsu at the output of the PSU and to communicate the I_PSU and the Vpsu to a power controller on the SOC, and a battery power measurement unit configured to determine I_BAT output from the rechargeable battery and voltage level Vsys at the output of the battery unit and to communicate the I_BAT and the Vsys to the power controller on the SOC, wherein the power controller is configured to determine level of power (P_PSU) input by the PSU into the charger based at least in part on the I_PSU and the Vpsu, determine, based at least in part on the P_PSU and the IBAT that the battery is operating in a plugged-in not charging (PINC) state, in response to determining that the battery is operating in the PINC state, adjusting, by the power controller on the SOC, a power supply limit (Psys_LIMIT) by the power controller on the SOC, and changing the power supplied to one or more components on the SOC based at least in part on the Psys_LIMIT.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system, comprising: a power supply unit (PSU) configured to supply power to a system on chip (SOC); a charger configured to receive power from the PSU; a rechargeable battery; a PSU power measurement unit configured to determine current level I_PSU output from the PSU and a voltage level Vpsu at the output of the PSU and to communicate the I_PSU and the Vpsu to a power controller on the SOC; and a battery power measurement unit configured to determine I_BAT output from the rechargeable battery and voltage level Vsys at the output of the battery unit and to communicate the I_BAT and the Vsys to the power controller on the SOC; wherein the power controller is configured to: determine level of power (P_PSU) input by the PSU into the charger based at least in part on the I_PSU and the Vpsu; determine, based at least in part on the P_PSU and the IBAT that the battery is operating in a plugged-in not charging (PINC) state; based at least in part on determining that the battery is operating in the PINC state, adjusting, by the power controller on the SOC, a power supply limit (Psys_LIMIT) by the power controller on the SOC; and changing the power supplied to one or more components on the SOC based at least in part on the Psys_LIMIT.

Facts

Company
Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
Official title
SOC POWER AND PERFORMANCE CONTROL SYSTEM
Publication number
US20260267391A1
Application number
19069829
Filed
Mar 4, 2025
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

G06F 1/3212 Physics & computingG06F 1/3296 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.