| 摘要 |
A personal computer that enters sleep mode to conserve electrical energy is responsive to a proximity detector and a proximity timer. As long as a user is near the computer, as determined by the proximity detector, the computer is controlled by an activity timer, and enters sleep mode upon being idle for a predetermined period of time. When the proximity detector determines that the user has left the computer unattended, the proximity detector starts the proximity timer. When the proximity timer expires, the computer enters sleep mode. Because the proximity timer operates only when the user has left the computer unattended, the proximity timer may be set to expire earlier than the activity timer. Consequently, the computer may enter sleep mode earlier than would otherwise be possible, and thereby consumes less energy.
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