INDUCTIVE POWERING FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20100160000A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power status signal is received in an integrated circuit that indicates an inductive power status of an off-chip inductive power module and a battery power status of a battery. A power mode is selected based on the at least one power status signal. A power mode signal is generated based on the selected power mode. A power supply signal is generated and adjusted in response to the power mode signal.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

voice data and RF integrated circuit (IC) that generates a power mode signal based on a selected one of a plurality of power modes;

an off-chip inductive power module that generates the inductive power signal;

an off-chip power management circuit, coupled to the voice data and RF IC and the off-chip inductive power module, wherein the off-chip power management circuit;

receives the power mode signal;

generates a power supply signal from the inductive power signal; and

adjusts the power supply signal in response to the power mode signal.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the off-chip power management circuit adjusts a supply voltage of the power supply signal in response to the power mode signal.

3. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the off-chip power management module generates a power status signal to the voice data and RF IC that indicates an inductive power status of the off-chip inductive power module, the inductive power status including an inductive power ready state.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the off-chip power management circuit further generates the power supply signal based on a battery power signal from a battery and the power status signal further indicates a battery power status of the battery.

5. The communication device of claim 4 wherein the voice data and RF IC determines a first power mode when the battery power status is in a normal state and determines a second power mode when the battery power status is a low state and the inductive power status is in the inductive power ready state.

6. The communication device of claim 5 wherein voice data and RF IC further includes a transmitter and the transmitter transmits a low power message in response to a change from the first power mode to the second power mode.

7. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the off-chip power management circuit adjusts a supply current limit in response to the power mode signal.

8. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the voice data and RF IC further includes:

an interface module that can be selectively deactivated and wherein the voice data and RF IC generates the power mode signal that commands the off-chip power management circuit to discontinue the powering the interface module.

9. The communication device of claim 9 wherein the interface module interfaces the voice data RF IC to a peripheral device that is powered via the interface module.

10. A voice data and RF integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

a memory module that stores at least one application having a plurality of power modes; and

a processing module, coupled to the memory module, that executes the plurality of operational instructions and that determines a selected one of the plurality of power modes, and generates a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes;

an on-chip power management circuit, coupled to the processing module, an off-chip inductive power module and coupleable to at least one alternative power source, that receives the power mode signal and that generates a power supply signal, based on the power mode signal, from one of, a inductive power signal from the off-chip inductive power module, and an alternative power signal from the at least one alternative power source; and

an interface module that can be selectively deactivated by the processing module and wherein the processing module generates the power mode signal that commands the on-chip power management circuit to discontinue the generation of a supply voltage to power the interface module.

11. The voice data and RF IC of claim 10 wherein the on-chip power management module generates a power status signal to the processing module that indicates an inductive power status of the off-chip inductive power module, the inductive power status including an inductive power ready state.

12. The voice data and RF IC of claim 11 wherein the at least one alternative power source includes a battery and the power status signal further indicates a battery power status of the battery.

13. The voice data and RF IC of claim 12 wherein the processing module determines a first power mode when the battery power status is in a normal state and determines a second power mode when the battery power status is a low state and the inductive power status is in the inductive power ready state.

14. The voice data and RF IC of claim 12 further comprising:

a transmitter and the processing module causes the transmitter to transmit a low power message in response to a change from the first power mode to the second power mode.

15. The voice data and RF IC of claim 10 wherein the interface module interfaces the voice data RF IC to a peripheral device that is powered via the interface module.

16. A method for use in an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

receiving at least one power status signal indicating an inductive power status of an off-chip inductive power module and the at least one power status signal further indicating a battery power status of a battery;

selecting one of a plurality of power modes based on the at least one power status signal;

generating a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes; and

generating a power supply signal; and

adjusting the power supply signal in response to the power mode signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein adjusting the power supply signal includes adjusting a supply voltage of the power supply signal.

18. The method of claim 16 adjusting the power supply signal includes adjusting a supply current limit in response to the power mode signal.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the inductive power status includes an inductive power ready state.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the wherein the step of determining a power mode includes determining a first power mode when the battery power status is in a normal state and determining a second power mode when the battery power status is a low state and the inductive power status is in the inductive power ready state.