Power managed USB for computing applications using a controller

• US 20050160196A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dutton, Drew J., Wurzburg, Henry, MacDonald, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0086 the connector comprising a circuit for steering the operations of the card connector

Abstract

In various embodiments, a computer system may include a computer controller to send and/or receive sideband signals to/from a USB device. In some embodiments, the USB device may include a USB controller to send/receive sideband signals to/from the computer controller. The computer controller and USB controller may allow communications between the computer system and the USB device when either of the computer system or USB device is in a low power state. The sideband signal sent between the computer system and the USB device may trigger the other of the computer system or USB device to enter a normal power state. In some embodiments, the computer controller and/or USB controller may be further coupled to a memory to buffer data to be sent to the computer system or USB device after the computer system or USB device returns to a normal power state.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a computer system;

a computer controller coupled to the computer system; and

wherein the computer controller is configured to communicate with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device through a sideband signal;

wherein the computer system is configured to communicate the sideband signal to the USB device over a sideband signal line when the sideband signal line is coupled to the computer system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to send the sideband signal to the USB device to signal the USB device to enter a normal power state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to buffer data to send to the USB device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to buffer data received from the USB device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first medium coupled to the computer system for communicating USB signals; and

the sideband signal line coupled to the computer system;

wherein the sideband signal line comprises a second medium for communicating a sideband signal.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a USB device; and

a USB controller coupled to the USB device;

wherein the USB controller is capable of communicating with a computer system through a sideband signal over a sideband signal line when the sideband signal line couples the USB device to the computer system.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a memory to buffer data to send to the computer system.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a memory to buffer data from the computer system.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the USB device is configured to send the sideband signal to the computer system to signal the computer system to enter a normal power state.

10. A method, comprising:

placing a USB device in a low power state;

sending a sideband signal to the USB device from a computer controller coupled to a computer system; and

wherein the USB device enters a normal power state after receiving the sideband signal.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the USB device is coupled to a USB controller;

wherein the USB controller is configured to receive the sideband signal from the computer system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer system sends the sideband signal to the USB device when an indication is received from the user.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

placing the computer system in a low power state;

placing the computer system in a normal power state; and

wherein the computer system enters a normal power state after receiving an indication from a user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer system sends the sideband signal to the USB device when the computer system enters the normal power state.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication from the user includes using a device coupled to the computer system.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising buffering data to send to the USB device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending the buffered data to the USB device.

18. A method, comprising:

placing a computer system in a low power state;

sending a sideband signal to the computer system from a USB device; and

wherein the computer system enters a normal power state after receiving the sideband signal.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the computer system is coupled to a computer controller;

wherein the computer controller is configured to receive the sideband signal from the USB device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the USB device sends the sideband signal to the computer system when an indication is received from a user.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

placing the USB device in a low power state;

placing the USB device in a normal power state; and

wherein the USB device enters the normal power state after receiving an indication from a user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the USB device sends the sideband signal to the computer system when the USB device enters the normal power state.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the indication from the user includes using the USB device.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising buffering data to send to the computer system.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending the buffered data to the computer system.