Circuit Having a Low Power Mode
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit (IC) capable of responding to power-up messages while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
- a digital interface;
a digital input connected to the digital interface;
primary operation circuitry connected to the digital interface and configured to perform one or more primary tasks, the primary operation circuitry configured for selectively having substantially all power removed; and
thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry and the digital input, the thin power circuitry configured to receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the digital input while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, and power up the primary operation circuitry in response to the set of predefined digital signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include an IC that includes a core used for ordinary operation and a thin power circuit. The thin power circuit can be configured to use very little power. The IC can also include a digital interface and a connection thereto. The IC can initiate transition to low power mode during which the core and various I/O pads can be shut down. However, the thin power circuit can be kept powered up. The thin power circuit can monitor the digital interface for a predefined wake up signal. When the wake up signal is detected, the thin power circuit can power up the core and any powered down I/O pads. The thin power circuit can also include a dedicated power on reset (POR) cell. This POR cell can be distinct than other POR cells used for the IC and can be specifically designed to for efficient operation.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC) capable of responding to power-up messages while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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a digital interface; a digital input connected to the digital interface; primary operation circuitry connected to the digital interface and configured to perform one or more primary tasks, the primary operation circuitry configured for selectively having substantially all power removed; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry and the digital input, the thin power circuitry configured to receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the digital input while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, and power up the primary operation circuitry in response to the set of predefined digital signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A portable audio player including an integrated circuit (IC) capable of responding to power-up messages while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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a digital interface; a digital input connected to the digital interface; primary operation circuitry configured to perform one or more primary tasks and connected to the digital interface, the IC being configured to selectively remove substantially all power from the primary operation circuitry; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry and the digital input and configured to while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the digital input, and in response to the set of predefined digital signals, power up the primary operation circuitry.
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20. A mobile telephone including an integrated circuit (IC) capable of responding to power-up messages while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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a digital interface; a digital input connected to the digital interface; primary operation circuitry configured to perform one or more primary tasks and connected to the digital interface, the IC being configured to selectively remove substantially all power from the primary operation circuitry; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry and the digital input and configured to while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the digital input, and in response to the set of predefined digital signals, power up the primary operation circuitry.
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21. A method for operating an integrated circuit (IC) including primary operation circuitry and thin power circuitry, the method comprising:
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powering down the primary operation circuitry while keeping the thin power circuitry powered; receiving a set of one or more predefined digital signals over a digital input by the power manager circuitry; and in response to the set of predefined digital signals, powering up the primary operation circuitry by the thin power circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An integrated circuit (IC) capable of reconfiguration while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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a configuration memory configured to store configuration information for the IC; a digital interface; a digital input connected to the digital interface; primary operation circuitry configured to perform one or more primary tasks and connected to the digital interface, the IC being configured to selectively remove substantially all power from the primary operation circuitry; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry, the digital input and the configuration memory and configured to while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the digital input, and in response to the set of predefined digital signals, change the information stored in the configuration memory, wherein changing the information stored in the configuration memory results in a change of the configuration of the IC. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An integrated circuit (IC) capable of communication with external devices while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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an external device interface connected to one or more external devices; a host interface connected to a host; primary operation circuitry configured to perform one or more primary tasks and connected to the external device interface and the host interface, the IC being configured to selectively remove substantially all power from the primary operation circuitry; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry, and the external device and host interfaces and configured to while power is removed from the primary operation circuitry, receive a set of one or more predefined digital signals over the external device interface, and in response to the set of predefined digital signals, send a signal to the host over the host interface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An integrated circuit (IC) capable of responding to power-up messages while in a low-power state, the IC comprising:
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a digital interface; a digital input connected to the digital interface; primary operation circuitry connected to the digital interface and configured to perform one or more primary tasks, during a normal power mode of operation of the IC, and to seize operation during a low power mode of operation of the IC, the primary operation circuitry including at least one primary power on reset cell, configured to initialize the primary operation circuitry during a power up of the primary operation circuitry; and thin power circuitry connected to the primary operation circuitry and the digital input, the thin power circuitry configured to operate during the normal and low power modes of the IC, the thin power circuitry including at least one thin power on reset cell configured to initialize the thin power circuitry during a power up of the thin power circuitry, the thin power on reset cell being distinct from the primary power on reset cell. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification