METHOD AND APARATUS FOR CONTROLLER WAKEUP
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a controller electrically connected to an input port;
the input port connectable to an external device to receive a control pilot signal generated by the external device and to output the control pilot signal to the controller; and
the controller comprising;
a primary microcontroller having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions, wherein the primary microcontroller is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the primary microcontroller memory to thereby;
detect a wakeup pulse generated by the monitoring device while the primary microcontroller is in one of a sleep state and a powered off state;
wake up from the one of the sleep state and powered off state in response to the wakeup pulse;
a monitoring device configured to receive the control pilot signal output from the charge port and having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for waking up the primary microcontroller, wherein the monitoring device is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the monitoring device memory to thereby;
poll the control pilot signal for a change in the control pilot signal while operating in low power mode;
detect the change in the control pilot signal; and
output the wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller in response to detecting the change in the control pilot signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for waking up a primary microcontroller of a controller in response to a change in a control pilot signal generated by an external device coupled to the controller includes coupling the external device to an input port electrically connected to the controller. A control pilot signal generated by the external device is received by the input port and outputted to a monitoring device of the controller in low power mode. The monitoring device in low power mode polls the control pilot signal and upon detecting a valid change transitions to normal power mode to output a wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller, which in a sleep state receives the wakeup pulse and wakes up to execute instructions stored on the primary microcontroller. In an example, the system controls recharging of a battery by a charging station which outputs a pulse width modulated control pilot signal.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a controller electrically connected to an input port; the input port connectable to an external device to receive a control pilot signal generated by the external device and to output the control pilot signal to the controller; and the controller comprising; a primary microcontroller having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions, wherein the primary microcontroller is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the primary microcontroller memory to thereby; detect a wakeup pulse generated by the monitoring device while the primary microcontroller is in one of a sleep state and a powered off state; wake up from the one of the sleep state and powered off state in response to the wakeup pulse; a monitoring device configured to receive the control pilot signal output from the charge port and having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for waking up the primary microcontroller, wherein the monitoring device is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the monitoring device memory to thereby; poll the control pilot signal for a change in the control pilot signal while operating in low power mode; detect the change in the control pilot signal; and output the wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller in response to detecting the change in the control pilot signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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coupling an external device to an input port; wherein the input port is electrically connected to a controller; receiving to the input port a control pilot signal generated by the external device; outputting the control pilot signal from the input port to the controller; the controller comprising a primary microcontroller and a monitoring device; the primary microcontroller having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions; the monitoring device having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for waking up the primary microcontroller from one of a sleep state and a powered off state; wherein at the time of coupling, the primary microcontroller is in one of the sleep state and the powered off state and the monitoring device is in low power mode; the method further comprising; receiving the control pilot signal to the monitoring device operating in low power mode; polling the control pilot signal to detect a change in the control pilot signal using the monitoring device operating in low power mode; detecting the change in the control pilot signal using the monitoring device in low power mode; and outputting the wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller in response to detecting the change in the control pilot signal using the monitoring device in normal power mode; receiving the wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller from the one of the sleep state and the powered off state; waking up from the primary microcontroller from the sleep or powered off state in response to the wakeup pulse such that the primary microcontroller can execute the instructions of the primary controller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. A vehicle comprising:
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a battery charge control system including a charge port electrically connected to a battery charge controller and connectable to a rechargeable battery; the charge port connectable to a charging station to receive and output a control pilot signal generated by the charging station and to selectively receive electric power from an external power source via the charging station; the battery charge controller comprising a primary microcontroller and a monitoring device; the primary microcontroller having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for controlling charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein the primary microcontroller is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the memory to thereby; detect a wakeup pulse generated by the monitoring device while the primary microcontroller is in one of a sleep state and a powered off state; wake up from the one of the sleep state and the powered off state in response to the wakeup pulse to control charging of the rechargeable battery by the charging station; the monitoring device configured to receive the control pilot signal output from the charge port; the monitoring device having a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for waking up the primary microcontroller, wherein the monitoring device is programmed to selectively execute the instructions from the memory to thereby; while operating in low power mode; poll the control pilot signal to detect a change in the control pilot signal; and upon detecting the change in the control pilot signal, determine if a wakeup criteria is met; transition from low power mode to normal power mode upon determining the wakeup criteria is met; while in normal power mode; validate the wakeup criteria are met; output the wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller upon validating the wakeup criteria have been met; and return to low power mode and continue to poll for change in the control pilot signal when the wakeup criteria are not met.
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Specification