Radar Sensor FSM Low Power Mode
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a radar, the method comprising:
- transmitting a radiation pulse with the radar during an active mode;
asserting a sleep flag after transmitting the radiation pulse;
turning off a crystal oscillator circuit of the radar after the sleep flag is asserted;
clocking a counter of the radar with a low power oscillator during a low power mode after the sleep flag is asserted;
asserting a timer flag when the counter reaches a first threshold; and
transitioning into the active mode after the timer flag is asserted.
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Abstract
In an embodiment, a method of operating a radar includes: transmitting a radiation pulse with the radar during an active mode; asserting a sleep flag after transmitting the radiation pulse; turning off a crystal oscillator circuit of the radar after the sleep flag is asserted; clocking a counter of the radar with a low power oscillator during a low power mode after the sleep flag is asserted; asserting a timer flag when the counter reaches a first threshold; and transitioning into the active mode after the timer flag is asserted.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of operating a radar, the method comprising:
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transmitting a radiation pulse with the radar during an active mode; asserting a sleep flag after transmitting the radiation pulse; turning off a crystal oscillator circuit of the radar after the sleep flag is asserted; clocking a counter of the radar with a low power oscillator during a low power mode after the sleep flag is asserted; asserting a timer flag when the counter reaches a first threshold; and transitioning into the active mode after the timer flag is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A radar comprising:
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a crystal oscillator circuit configured to be coupled to an external crystal, the crystal oscillator circuit configured to generate a first clock signal; a low power oscillator circuit configured to generate a second clock signal; a counter coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit and to the low power oscillator circuit; and a finite state machine configured to; cause the radar to transmit a radiation pulse during an active mode, assert a sleep flag after transmitting the radiation pulse, turn off the crystal oscillator circuit after the sleep flag is asserted, clock the counter with the second clock signal during a low power mode after the sleep flag is asserted, assert a timer flag when the counter reaches a threshold, and cause the radar to transition to the active mode when the timer flag is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A millimeter-wave radar comprising:
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a transmitting antenna configured to transmit a chirp during an active mode; a crystal oscillator circuit configured to be coupled to an external crystal, the crystal oscillator circuit configured to generate a first clock signal having a first frequency; a low power oscillator circuit configured to generate a second clock signal having a second frequency lower than the first frequency; a low power regulator configured to provide power to the low power oscillator circuit; a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit, and a second input coupled to the low power oscillator circuit; a counter having an input coupled to an output of the multiplexer; and a finite state machine configured to; assert a sleep flag after transmitting the chirp, turn off the crystal oscillator circuit and a clock path associated with the crystal oscillator circuit after the sleep flag is asserted, select the low power oscillator circuit for clocking the counter after the sleep flag is asserted using the multiplexer, clock the counter with the low power oscillator circuit during a low power mode, assert a timer flag when the counter reaches a threshold, and cause the millimeter-wave radar to transition to the active mode when the timer flag is asserted. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification