Jirka Jirout

After more tests, I believe we figured out the ultimate solution for the power issues, that does resolve most (if not all) issues related to using the ACPI pulse output of the power adapter or a hardware switch (out-of-sync state between the PSU and the computer).

We use our older method of watching the presence of externally powered USB device (such as a GPS receiver) on the USB bus to determine when to put the computer to sleep. Alternatively this information can be retrieved from the P2140 using USB connection. If P2140 is used, the software can decide to either go to sleep or just give the user a warning and ask whether he wants to turn the computer off (technically that is sleep mode). In our software, we just start countdown the way OS X does when you select "Log out" or "Shut down". If the user performs any action, the countdown sequence is extended or restarted. After the computer has determined it is really the time to sleep, it first turns off the PSU (=initiates its shutdown sequence) and then goes to sleep.

The PSU can be configured for either sleep or hibernation. The deep sleep is enabled in any case on the compuer. It can be awaken from a normal sleep using the change on the USB which occurs when the new (externally powered) devices are connected. This is however not sufficient to wake the computer from the deep sleep (which may be used by choice or entered by deadman timer of the PSU). To do this, you need to go to Energy saver pane of the System preferences and enable the "Restart automatically after power failure". This way, the Mac will wake up from the deep sleep whenever the power is re-applied (after PSU has been turned on).

This solution prevents the sync problems between the PSU and the Mac, can handle random wake-ups while the car is sleeping and the power drawn is not sufficient to trigger the PSU's built-in protection and allows us to remove the need for connection of the computer's power button, which is especially welcome in the dock, whose construction becomes significantly easier.

iamgnat

Not to knock the work that you've done, but is this really an issue (beyond simplifying a dock) that many people have?

I ask as I haven't seen many threads about it since i've joined (at least where the issue wasn't a misconfigured P1900/2140 or a device drawing power from the Mini) and my Mini has worked great with it's P1900 for almost 1.5 years now.

-dave

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Jirka Jirout

It depends on what you want and expect. We want and need a completely foolproof solution where the computer reliably follows the ignition line regardless of the state. I never felt this was a huge issue (except for the dock of course), but when we started to test our installations on normal users who do not give <censored> about technology and want things to "just work", we started to see this as a problem. Quickly turn the ignition on and off (i.e. checking the odometer, closing the windows, moving the car a few feet in the driveway) a few times and you are out of sync between your PSU and the computer. We do not want this to happen, we do not want a solution for geeks or a letter-sized cheat sheet like "if this happens, do this, but sometimes you have to do something else depending on ...."

We want the reliability and ease of use to be close to a car radio or a mobile phone, not to a desktop computers, where a restart here and there is something normal and accepted.

iamgnat

I completely understand and agree. Just saying Mike's work seems pretty solid already

My only annoyance is the 60 second lockout in cases like you mentioned, but my Mini has never gotten out of sync because of it. Guess I just don't abuse it like a normal user

-dave

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daclothe

i'd be happy with just being able to buy a 2140...