Apparatus and method for waking up a processor

• US 10,241,553 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Heo, Changryong, Park, Kenhyung, Park, Kiyeon, Kim, Yongyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Vincent H
• Application Number:
  US14/744,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150286263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 713320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An apparatus and method for waking up a main processor (MP) in a low power or ultra-low power device preferably includes the MP, and a sub-processor (SP) that utilizes less power than the MP to monitor ambient conditions than the MP, and may be internalized in the MP. The MP and SP can remain in a sleep mode while an interrupt sensor monitors for changes in the ambient environment. A sensor is preferably an interrupt-type sensor, as opposed to polling-type sensors conventionally used to detect ambient changes. The MP and SP may remain in sleep mode, as a low-power or an ultra-low power interrupt sensor operates with the SP being in sleep mode, and awakens the SP via an interrupt indicating a detected change. The SP then wakes the MP after comparing data from the interrupt sensor with values in storage or with another sensor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while a first processor and a second processor are in a continuous sleep state, receiving an event;

responsive to the event, interrupting the second processor, causing the second processor to enter an active state;

receiving a trace input via a touch screen, the touch screen being operatively coupled with the second processor while the first processor is in an inactive state;

determining by the second processor, whether the trace input corresponds to data including a signature pattern in relation to an user touch input transmitted from the first processor to the second processor while the first processor was in an active state; and

sending a signal from the second processor to the first processor to transition the first processor from the sleep state to the active state based at least in part on a determination that the trace input corresponds to the data

wherein the event comprises removal of a stylus from a holder,

wherein causing the second processor to enter an active state further comprises causing the second processor to enter the active state for at least a predetermined period of time, responsive to removal of the stylus from the holder;

the method further comprising;

returning the second processor to the continuous sleep state when during the predetermined period of time, the second processor does not determine that the trace input corresponds to data including a signature pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises:

transitioning the second processor from the active state to the sleep state if no input has been obtained at the second processor for a specified time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second processor is operated using a second power level, and the first processor is operated using a first power level higher than the second power level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises:

performing a specified function in response to the input using the first processor transitioned to the active state.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the specified function comprises:

a function to unlock a locked function of an electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning the second processor from the active state to the sleep state based at least in part on a determination that the trace input does not correspond to the signature pattern.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the trace input comprises writing with a stylus.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a first processor;

a second processor; and

a touch screen configured to detect an event while the first processor is in a continuous sleep mode and a second processor is in an active mode;

wherein the second processor is configured to;

receive an interrupt responsive to the event, causing the second processor to enter an active mode;

receive a trace input from the touch screen;

determine whether the trace input correspond to a predetermined signature;

when the trace input corresponds to the predetermined signature, send to the first processor a request to transition the first processor from the sleep mode to the active mode,

wherein the first processor is configured to display the trace input in response to the request from the second processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second processor are configured to:

transition to the active mode in response to the input while the first processor is in the sleep mode.