ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND SENSOR DEVICE WITH LOW POWER CONSUMPTION AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20180081416A1
• Filed: 11/29/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Larosa, Roberto, Mangano, Daniele, Condorelli, Riccardo, Zoppi, Giulio, Aiello, Natale
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality

Abstract

An electronic device may include a transducer configured to generate an electrical output responsive to an input, and a data storage element configured to change state responsive to the transducer. The electronic device may include a power circuit configured to turn on and supply power responsive to the data storage element changing state, and a processing circuit configured to be powered by the power circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a power source configured to generate a reference voltage;

a data storage element comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the reference voltage, wherein the second input terminal is configured to receive an electrical input signal, wherein the data storage element is configured to change state in response to reception of the electrical input signal, and wherein a first output signal is generated at the output terminal of the data storage element in response to the data storage element changing state;

a power circuit comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the reference voltage, wherein the second input terminal is configured to receive the first output signal from the data storage element, and wherein the power circuit is configured to be enabled in response to reception of the first output signal; and

a processor coupled to the output terminal of the power circuit and to a control terminal of the data storage element, wherein the power circuit is configured to provide power to the processor when the power circuit is enabled, wherein the processor is configured to provide a control signal to the control terminal of the data storage element to clear the first output signal, wherein clearing the first output signal causes the power circuit to be disabled and to cease provision of power to the processor to conserve power of the power source.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power circuit comprises a switch, and wherein the switch is configured to provide the reference voltage to the processor when the switch is enabled.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the data storage element comprises a flip flop, and wherein the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the data storage element comprises a data input and a clock input of the flip flop, respectively.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control terminal of the data storage element comprises a clear down input of the flip flop.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a transducer configured to generate the electrical input signal at an output of the transducer.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the processor is coupled to the output of the transducer, and wherein the processor is configured to monitor the output of the transducer when the processor is powered.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to generate the control signal after a timeout period during which the electrical input signal ceases to be present at the output of the transducer.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a main power input and a backup power input, wherein the power circuit is configured to provide power to main power input of the processor when the power circuit is enabled, and wherein the power source is coupled to the backup power input of the processor.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a wireless receiver is configured to generate an electrical pulse in response to a received radio frequency signal;

a power source configured to generate a reference voltage;

a latch circuit comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the reference voltage, wherein the second input terminal is configured to receive the electrical pulse from the wireless receiver, wherein the latch circuit is configured to change state in response to reception of the electrical pulse, and wherein an enable signal is generated at the output terminal of the latch circuit in response to the latch circuit changing state;

a power circuit comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the reference voltage, wherein the second input terminal is configured to receive the enable signal from the latch circuit, and wherein the power circuit is configured to be enabled in response to reception of the enable signal; and

a processor comprising a first power terminal, the first power terminal of the processor being coupled to the output terminal of the power circuit, wherein the power circuit is configured to provide power to the processor via the first power terminal of the processor when the power circuit is enabled, wherein the processor is configured to provide a disable signal to a control terminal of the latch circuit to clear the enable signal, wherein clearing the enable signal causes the power circuit to be disabled and to cease provision of power to the processor to conserve power of the power source.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first power terminal comprises a main power terminal of the processor, wherein the processor further comprises a backup power terminal, and wherein the backup power terminal is configured to receive the reference voltage from the power source.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the latch circuit comprise a data input terminal and a clock input terminal of the latch circuit, respectively.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a transducer configured to generate an electrical output at an output terminal of the transducer;

a battery configured to generate power;

a data storage element comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive power from the battery, wherein the second input terminal is configured to receive the electrical output of the transducer, wherein the data storage element is configured to change state in response to reception of the electrical output, and wherein an enable signal is generated at the output terminal of the data storage element in response to the data storage element changing state;

a power circuit comprising a power terminal, an enable terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the power terminal is configured to receive power from the battery, wherein the enable terminal is configured to receive the enable signal from the data storage element, and wherein the power circuit is configured to be enabled in response to reception of the enable signal; and

a processor coupled to the output terminal of the power circuit and to a control terminal of the data storage element, wherein the power circuit is configured to provide power to the processor when the power circuit is enabled, wherein the processor is configured to provide a control signal to the control terminal of the data storage element to clear the enable signal, wherein clearing the enable signal causes the power circuit to be disabled and to cease provision of power to the processor to conserve power of the battery.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the transducer comprises an inductor-capacitor tank circuit.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the transducer comprises a mechanical-to-electrical sensor.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the transducer comprises a fluid flow sensor.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the processor is coupled to the output terminal of the transducer, and wherein the processor is configured to monitor the output terminal of the transducer when the processor is powered.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to generate the control signal in response to the electrical output ceasing to be present at the output terminal of the transducer for at least a timeout period.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the data storage element comprises a flip flop.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the power circuit comprises a switch, and wherein the switch is configured to provide the power from the battery to the processor when the switch is enabled.