Susspending computer operation

[p.bagley@abdn.ac.uk]

I need to be able to place my computer into susspend mode programmatically from Labview. Then wake it up again from the computers real time clock. My application is running on a battery powered laptop. By susspebding operation I can save power and make the experiment last longer. I am recording fish at 6000m depth on the ocean floor with no physical connection to the surface.

Does anyone have experience of this? Can you suggest whether this is possible, or even better suggest a suitable VI.

Many thanks for any help

Phil...

[paul_s]

maybe you can use system exec to go into hibernate?

[mikeporter]

I understand what you're trying to do, but it seems inherently risky to me. I think I would concentrate on getting a BHB (Big Honking Battery) to drive the computer and be done with it. BTW, where will the computer be relative to the fish? Does the platform you're going to be on have any sort of power available?

Mike?

[Alberto]

Hi Phil,
I agree with Mike.
The problem I experimented with hibernation on notebooks and PCMCIIA DAQ-card is that, when the pc re-enters from hibernation, access to the board causes errors; just like if Windows downloads its drivers-resources. The only thing left to do is rebooting the pc!!!
This occurred on all Windows versions, that's why I normally disable the self hibernation on notebooks.
I've tried several ways to prevent this, but no success.

Good luck,
Alberto

P.S. Have you heard about the relatively new low power pc boards? Many of them use the National Semiconductors GEODE processor, as far as I know they are not available on notebooks; but with a little effort you can build-up your own machine.
I am using one on a low power requirement applicatio
n, think that it draws only 2A on the 5V supply with a PCI-6023 installed(obviously without LCD display), and runs perfectly Win-98. Further it has an extended temperature range and definitely extended reliability.
This ain't bad for an embedded application!