IMPLEMENTING HARDWARE/SOFTWARE RESET USING PC CARD W_DISABLE LINE

• US 20090075600A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sanders, Stuart B., Hahn, Christopher, Williams, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/908 Local area network

Abstract

A wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with other devices a control pin for controlling at least one function of the communication module, an input device operatively coupled to the control pin, wherein actuation of the input device toggles a signal on the control pin between one of two different states, and a hardware reset circuit configured to implement a hardware reset of the communication module. The control pin is operatively coupled to the hardware reset circuit to at least partially implement the hardware reset, the hardware reset being different from the at least one function.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a communication module for wirelessly communicating with other devices, said communication module including a control pin for controlling at least one function of the communication module; and

a hardware reset circuit configured to implement a hardware reset of the communication module, wherein the control pin is operatively coupled to the hardware reset circuit to at least partially implement the hardware reset, said hardware reset being different from the at least one function.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is embedded in the portable electronic device.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises a card that is removably insertable into the portable electronic device.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one function is a software reset command for the communication module.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hardware reset circuit further comprises a hardware timer circuit, and the portable electronic device further comprises an input device operatively coupled to the hardware timer circuit, wherein when the input device is actuated a first signal is applied to an input of the hardware timer circuit, and the hardware timer circuit outputs a second signal corresponding to the first signal a predetermined time delay after the input device is actuated.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the hardware reset circuit further comprises an enable input, wherein based on a signal applied to the enable input, operation of the hardware timer circuit is enabled or disabled.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hardware timer circuit comprises:

an RC circuit operatively coupled to the control pin; and

a one-shot timer, wherein an input of the one-shot timer is operatively coupled to the RC circuit so as to receive a signal applied to the control pin a predetermined time delay after the signal is applied to the RC circuit.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control pin enables or disables a wireless communication capability of the communication module.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the control pin is a W_Disable pin of the wireless communication module.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a portable computer, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, an electronic organizer, a portable gaming device, or a portable media device.

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is based on at least one of WiFi, WiMedia, W-USB, WLP, or W1394.

12. A wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with other devices, comprising:

a control pin for controlling at least one function of the communication module;

an input device operatively coupled to the control pin, wherein actuation of the input device toggles a signal on the control pin between one of two different states; and

a hardware reset circuit configured to implement a hardware reset of the communication module, wherein the control pin is operatively coupled to the hardware reset circuit to at least partially implement the hardware reset, said hardware reset being different from the at least one function.

13. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the communication module is formed as an integrated circuit for embedding within a portable electronic device.

14. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the communication module is formed as a card that is removably insertable into a portable electronic device.

15. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the at least one function is a software reset command for the communication module.

16. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the hardware reset circuit further comprises a hardware timer circuit, and the wireless communication module further comprises an input device operatively coupled to the hardware timer circuit, wherein when the input device is actuated a first signal is applied to an input of the hardware timer circuit, and the hardware timer circuit outputs a second signal corresponding to the first signal a predetermined time delay after the input device is actuated.

17. The wireless communication module according to claim 16, wherein the hardware reset circuit further comprises an enable input, wherein based on a signal applied to the enable input, operation of the hardware timer circuit is enabled or disabled.

18. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the hardware timer circuit comprises:

an RC circuit operatively coupled to the control pin; and

a one-shot timer, wherein an input of the one-shot timer is operatively coupled to the RC circuit so as to receive a signal applied to the control pin a predetermined time delay after the signal is applied to the RC circuit.

19. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the control pin enables or disables wireless communication capability of the communication module.

20. The wireless communication module according to claim 19, wherein the control pin is a W-Disable pin of the wireless communication module.

21. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the communication module is based on at least one of WiFi, WiMedia, W-USB, WLP, or W1394.

22. The wireless communication module according to claim 12, wherein the communication module utilizes a radio communication medium or an optical communication medium to exchange data with other devices.