METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DRIVING CONDITION BASED ON OPERATING STATE

• US 20140139024A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Chuleun, Park, Chulwoo, Lee, Kwangsub, Jang, Seyoung
• Granted Patent: US 9,600,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/10 Regulating voltage or current G05F1/02 takes precedence; for electric railways B60M3/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An electronic device controls a driving condition based on an operating state. The device includes a function block, a function monitoring agent, and a driving control module. The function block includes a plurality of function modules. The function monitoring agent is configured to identify one or more activated function modules among the function modules in the function block. The driving control module is configured to determine the driving condition required for an operation of the activated function modules, and based on the determined driving condition, to drive the activated function modules.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a driving condition based on an operating state, the method comprising:

identifying one or more activated function modules among function modules in a control unit;

determining the driving condition required for operating the activated function modules; and

based on the determined driving condition, driving the activated function modules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the driving condition includes at least one of:

determining a highest voltage of all of voltages required by the activated function modules;

or

calculating a specific voltage required by all of the activated function modules.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein driving the activated function modules includes:

supplying electric power to the activated function modules at the highest voltage.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein driving the activated function modules includes:

supplying electric power to the activated function modules at the specific voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the driving condition includes:

checking a resolution of a display unit; and

detecting a specific voltage defined depending on the resolution of the display unit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein driving the activated function modules includes supplying electric power to the activated function modules at the specific voltage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the driving condition includes determining a highest operating frequency of all operating frequencies required by the activated function modules.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein driving the activated function modules includes supplying electric power to the activated function modules at the highest operating frequency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the driving condition includes detecting a Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) extended table which is predefined for the operation of the activated function modules.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing a further change in operating states of the function modules, the further change including an inactivation of the activated function module or an activation of an inactivated function module.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

after the recognizing of the further change, determining again the driving condition required for the operation of the activated function modules.

12. An electronic device for controlling a driving condition based on an operating state, the device comprising:

a function block including a plurality of function modules;

a function monitoring agent configured to identify one or more activated function modules among the function modules in the function block; and

a driving control module configured to determine the driving condition required for an operation of the activated function modules, and based on the determined driving condition, to drive the activated function modules.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the driving control module is further configured to determine a highest voltage of all of voltages required by the activated function modules, and to supply electric power to the activated function modules at the highest voltage or at the specific voltage.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the driving control module is further configured to calculate a specific voltage required by all of the activated function modules, and to supply electric power to the activated function modules at the specific voltage.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the driving control module is further configured to check a resolution of a display unit, to detect a specific voltage defined depending on the resolution of the display, and to supply electric power to the activated function modules at the specific voltage.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the driving control module is further configured to determine a highest operating frequency of all of operating frequencies required by the activated function modules, and to supply electric power to the activated function modules at the highest operating frequency.

17. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) extended table which is predefined for the operation of the activated function modules.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the driving control module is further configured to recognize a further change in operating states of the function modules, the further change including an inactivation of the activated function module or an activation of an inactivated function module, and then to determine again the driving condition required for the operation of the activated function modules.