Windows 10: Microsoft’s patent details battery protection mode for Windows 10 devices

The latest patent filed by Microsoft details the useful battery protection mode. In the patent filing, Microsoft has detailed how the new battery protection mode could be enabled on devices and how it is designed to improve the battery performance of the hardware.

The patented feature is quite useful for devices that are plugged in for longer periods of time or rarely used in an unplugged state.

First discovered by us, the patent titled ‘Battery Protection Mode’ was filed by Redmond-based Microsoft in June 2017 and it was published by USPTO yesterday (January 3, 2019). The patent pages contain common language describing a battery protection mode.

In the patent application, techniques for a battery protection mode are described where the device would switch itself to a mode where a maximum permitted to charge is already determined.


Image Courtesy: USPTO

The patent is for a pretty simple mode to increase overall battery life. The background section describes the problem:

“Many devices today utilize some form of battery for various power needs, such as a primary power source, a backup power source, and so forth. Battery life is a primary concern, particularly with mobile devices such as mobile phones, portable computing devices, wearables, and so forth. Devices with batteries that are consistently plugged into alternating current (AC) power are prone to experience battery issues due to sustained 100% charge levels. This is particularly true with lithium-ion batteries,” the background section of the patent explains.

The idea, as hinted in the background section, is to switch the device to a battery protection mode which will temporarily reduce the maximum permitted battery charge level.


Image Courtesy: USPTO

Microsoft’s proposed solution is, of course, explained in the summary section of the patent:

“Techniques for a battery protection mode are described. According to techniques described herein, an electronic device can operate in a standard charging mode where a battery of the device is permitted to be charged to full capacity. However, when a trigger event occurs, the electronic device transitions to a battery protection mode where a maximum permitted charge for the battery is reduced from the standard charging mode. In at least one implementation, the trigger event represents a timer that elapses to indicate that the battery has been under external charging power for a threshold period of time. Alternatively or additionally, the trigger event represents state information for a battery, such as received from a fuel gauge that monitors battery state,” the company explains.

It’s important to note that in October 2018, Microsoft rolled out a Battery Limit feature for Surface devices to help the lithium-ion batteries last longer. The patent could be detailing the same feature or there is also a chance that the company is working on an improved battery limit feature for more devices.

The post Microsoft’s patent details battery protection mode for Windows 10 devices appeared first on Windows Latest

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Microsoft Windows 10 "Game Mode" Further Detailed

At GDC 2017, Microsoft trickled out a few more details regarding its upcoming "Game Mode" for Windows 10. If you remember, "Game Mode" is an upcoming Windows feature which is currently going through its "Beta" phase on Windows 10's Creators Update, which will purportedly improve performance in games or similar full-screen applications.

According to the details Microsoft let out, Game Mode will ultimately dive deeper than the simple attribution of higher priority to a game's process. Instead, "Game Mode" will be able to allocate entire CPU cores (whether there is any distinction between physical or logical cores wasn't disclosed) solely to the purpose of processing your game of choice. This will probably end the dynamic allocation of threads that currently occurs, where game processing can jump around in the cores employed, while also looking to ensure that the entirety of the CPU and cache is dedicated to the game. This could, theoretically, aid performance in some more exotic core complexes (I'm looking at you, CCX).









Microsoft is also planning to improve things on the GPU side of the game, by fully prioritizing game-related graphics memory allocation, downgrading all other VRAM needs to their absolute minimum.

In the initial throes of Game Mode, it's expected that users will be able to define whether a game runs in Game Mode or not (which is handy, considering there could be some unforeseen consequences in either your gaming or Windows environment). Likely, this means there will be a general Game Mode toggle, as well as an application-specific one. On their part, developers will reportedly have the option to run hardware queries at the beginning of their game's process so as to trigger Game Mode alongside it.

Source: Eteknix

 

Futuremark Releases Powermark Battery Life Test for Windows 7 Devices

Futuremark, the world leader in performance benchmarking software and services, today expanded its product line with Powermark a new battery life and power consumption test for Windows 7 notebooks, laptops, tablets and other battery powered devices. Powermark is a professional grade benchmark designed for industrial testing of battery powered Windows 7 devices by OEMs, corporations and governments. It includes a convenient set of standard tests based on productivity and entertainment use-case scenarios, as well as allowing custom settings for bespoke testing requirements. Powermark Professional Edition commercial licenses start at $200 for 10 activations. For further details and to purchase Powermark please visit this page.

Jukka Mäkinen, CEO of Futuremark said, "Battery life is critical to delivering a positive user experience. Powermark helps PC industry OEMs and their suppliers strike a balance between performance and power consumption by providing a consistent, accurate and reliable testing and measurement tool created with Futuremark’s deep experience in quality benchmarking software."

Powermark - battery life test for Windows 7 devices from Futuremark:

• Accurately measure the battery life of Windows 7 devices.
• Choose convenient scenario tests or create your own custom settings.
• Designed for professional test lab environments.
• Licensed for commercial use.

Powermark is only available for business customers at this time.

 

Microsoft Windows 10 "Game Mode" Further Detailed

http://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-game-mode