Power supply efficiency optimization

• US 20090089600A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nousiainen, Jaakko
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3237 by disabling clock generation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus operative in a portable electronic device having a processor and a switching mode power supply detect entry of the processor into a power saving mode during active operations and signal the switching mode power supply that the processor has entered a power saving mode. In response to the signaling the switching mode power supply optimizes its operating state in order to increase power supply efficiency.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a power supply configured to operate in at least two power supply operating modes;

to receive operating mode signals from at least one other component of the portable electronic device; and

to change power supply operating modes in dependence on the operating mode signals received from the at least one other component;

at least one processor configured to operate in at least two processor operating modes; and

control apparatus configured to detect a change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor and to transmit an operating mode signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode to the power supply.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the power supply is a switching mode power supply.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the power supply is further configured to transmit an acknowledgement signal indicating that the power supply has changed power supply operating modes as a result of receiving the operating mode signal indicating that the at least one processor has changed processor operating modes.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from an active mode to a power saving mode.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from a high power draw mode to a low power draw mode.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from a high power draw active mode to a low power draw active mode.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the control apparatus is further configured to detect the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor before the change in the processor operating mode is implemented and to transmit the operating mode signal indicating that the at least one processor will change processor operating modes to the power supply before the change in the processor operating mode is implemented.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to delay implementing the change in processor operating mode until the power supply has been signaled that a change in the processor operating mode will be made.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to delay implementing the change in processor operating mode until the power supply has changed power supply operating mode in anticipation of the change in processor operating mode.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1 where the power supply further comprises at least two power supplies, each of the at least two power supplies configured to operate in at least two power supply operating modes;

to receive operating mode signals from at least one other component of the portable electronic device; and

to change power supply operating modes in dependence on the operating mode signals received from the at least one other component.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a two-pin interface configured to convey the operating mode signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode of the processor to the power supply.

12. A method comprising:

in a portable electronic device comprising a switching mode power supply and at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to operate in at least two processor operating modes, detecting a change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor;

transmitting an operating mode signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor to the switching mode power supply;

receiving the signal at the switching mode power supply; and

changing a power supply operating mode of the switching mode power supply in dependence on receipt of the operating mode signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting an acknowledgement signal indicating that the switching mode power supply has changed power supply operating modes as a result of receiving the signal indicating that the at least one processor has changed processor operating modes.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from an active mode to a power saving mode.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from a high power draw mode to a low power draw mode.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from a high power draw active mode to a low power draw active mode.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein detecting a change in the processor operating mode and transmitting a signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode to the switching mode power supply occurs before the change in processor operating mode is implemented by the at least one processor.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

delaying the change in processor operating mode of the at least one processor until the switching mode power supply has changed power supply operating modes.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor is from a low power draw mode to a high power draw mode.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory medium storing a computer program configured to be executed by control apparatus of a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having at least one processor and at least one switching mode power supply, wherein when executed the computer program product is configured to cause the portable electronic device to detect a change in processor operating mode of the at least one processor;

to transmit a signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode of the at least one processor to the switching mode power supply;

to receive the signal at the switching mode power supply; and

to change a power supply operating mode of the switching mode power supply in dependence on receipt of the signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode.

21. A portable electronic device comprising:

power supply means for supplying power to other components of the portable electronic device;

for operating in at least two power supply operating modes when supplying power to the other components;

for receiving operating mode signals from at least one other component of the portable electronic device; and

for changing power supply operating modes in dependence on the operating mode signals received from the at least one other component;

processor means for performing processor operations and for operating in at least two processor operating modes when performing processing operations; and

control means for detecting a change in the processor operating mode of the processor means and for transmitting an operating mode signal indicating the change in the processor operating mode of the processor means to the power supply means.

22. An integrated control circuit for use with a power supply in a portable electronic device, the integrated control circuit comprising control apparatus configured to receive an operating mode signal from at least one power-consuming component of the portable electronic device, the operating mode signal indicating a change in the operating mode of the at least one power-consuming component of the portable electronic device;

and to change the operating mode of the power supply in dependence on the operating mode signal received from the at least one power-consuming component of the portable electronic device.

23. The integrated control circuit of claim 22 wherein the change in the operating mode of the power supply is made to improve the efficiency of operation of the power supply.

24. The integrated control circuit of claim 22 wherein the change in the operating mode of the power supply is made to improve the transient performance of the power supply.