Portable electronic device with power failure recovery and operation method thereof

• US 20030109243A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qisda Corporation
• Original Assignee: Acer American Holdings (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, Chen-Huang, Du, Ben-Chuan, Chang, Hsin-Chin
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

A portable electronic device with power failure recovery, powered by a main power source, the device comprising a power detection module, a processor, a timing unit and a power management unit. The power detection module detects an output characteristic from the main power source and asserts an interrupt signal if the characteristic is below a threshold value. The processor asserts a turn-off signal and an enable signal in response to the interrupt signal. The timing unit asserts a notification signal at a predetermined time interval when the enable signal is asserted. Upon receipt of the turn-off signal, the power management unit disconnects the main power source to a circuit block with high power consumption. Moreover, the power management unit reconnects the main power source to the circuit block when the notification signal is asserted and the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond the threshold value.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device with power failure recovery, powered by a main power source, comprising:

a power detection module, detecting an output characteristic from the main power source, for asserting an interrupt signal if the detected output characteristic is below a first threshold value;

a processor, responsive to the interrupt signal, for asserting a turn-off signal and an enable signal;

a timing unit, responsive to the enable signal, for asserting a notification signal at a predetermined time interval when the enable signal is asserted, wherein the timing unit is directly powered by a backup power source; and

a power management unit, electrically coupled to the main power source and the backup power source, for disconnecting the main power source to a circuit block with high power consumption when the turn-off signal is asserted, and for reconnecting the main power source to the circuit block with high power consumption when the notification signal is asserted and the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond a second threshold value.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a volatile RAM powered by the backup power source, wherein the volatile memory stores operation data when the power failure in the main power source occurs.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 2 wherein the processor performs a resume operation based on the operation data stored in the volatile memory when the main power source is reconnected by the power management unit.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the timing unit further includes a clock for keeping track of ongoing time and date.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the backup power source is charged by the main power source when the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond the second threshold value.

6. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the backup power source is charged by the power management unit when the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond the second threshold value.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the main power source is a removable battery.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the backup power source is a built-in battery.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the backup power source is a large charged capacitor.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are the same.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit block with high power consumption includes the processor, a radio part and at least an input/output device.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 3 wherein the volatile RAM is a static RAM with low power consumption.

13. A portable electronic device with power failure recovery, powered by a main power source, comprising:

a power detection module, detecting an output characteristic from the main power source, for asserting an interrupt signal when a power failure in the main power source occurs and the detected output characteristic is below a first threshold value;

a volatile RAM, for storing operation data when the power failure in the main power source occurs;

a processor, responsive to the interrupt signal, for asserting a turn-off signal and an enable signal;

a timing unit, responsive to the enable signal, for asserting a notification signal at a predetermined time interval when the enable signal is asserted; and

a power management unit, electrically coupled to the main power source and a backup power source, power supplying the timing unit and the volatile RAM from the backup power source, for disconnecting the main power source to a circuit block with high power consumption when the turn-off signal is asserted, and for reconnecting the main power source to the circuit block with high power consumption when the notification signal is asserted and the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond a second threshold value;

wherein the processor performs a resume operation based on the operation data stored in the volatile memory when the main power source is reconnected.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the timing unit further includes a clock for keeping track of ongoing time and date.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the backup power source is charged by the main power source when the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond the second threshold value.

16. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the backup power source is charged by the power management u nit when the output characteristic of the main power source is beyond the second threshold value.

17. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are the same.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the circuit block with high power consumption includes the processor, a radio part and at least an input/output device.

19. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13 wherein the volatile RAM is a static RAM with low power consumption.

20. A method for a portable electronic device recovering from a power failure in a main power source, the method comprising:

detecting a output characteristic of the main power source;

disconnecting the main power source to a circuit block with high power consumption when the detected output characteristic is below a first threshold value;

detecting the output characteristic of the main power source in response to a notification signal asserted from a timing unit at a predetermined time interval; and

reconnecting the main power source to the circuit block with high power consumption when the detected output characteristic is beyond a second threshold value.