Four mode microcomputer power save operation

• US 4,317,181 A
• Filed: 12/26/1979
• Issued: 02/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Lies, Kenneth A., Teza, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US06/106,809
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 364/707, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 713/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A calculator having constant memory utilizing a low power microcomputer with on-chip memory capability, and multiple partition power control of circuit groups. Incorporation of a first and second switched negative voltage and a non-switched negative voltage enables the power hungry clocked logic and the display interface and keystroke detect circuitry, to be turned off while power is maintained on the internal static RAM, and on the RAM write logic, digit latches, and R-lines which connect to both the internal RAM, or to selectively connect in combination the first and second switched voltages. In an alternate embodiment, a multiple oscillator, multiple partition system is controlled to provide an off-mode, display only mode (low frequency oscillator), a process only mode, and a display and process mode, thereby optimizing power dissipation to system requirements. Thus, semi-non-volatile memory (constant memory) capability, power down standby, and display only, capabilities may be achieved. Power consumption less than conventional CMOS is obtainable.

Claims

1. An electronic data processing system comprising:

(a) operator input means having means for generating an ON signal, an OFF signal and a plurality of operation signals; and

(b) electronic circuit means having first and second oscillator means and first and second sets of data processing operational circuits for performing data processing operations in accordance with said operation signals and for generating mode signals including;

(i) first clock pulse generator means controlled by said first oscillator means, responsive to predetermined signals from said operator input means and to first predetermined mode signals from other portions of said electronic circuit means selectively to operate in a standby, low power consumption mode, or to operate in an active mode to supply first clock pulses to control operation of said first set of data processing operational circuits; and

(ii) second clock pulse generator means controlled by said second oscillator means, responsive to predetermined signals from said operator input means and to second predetermined mode signals from other portions of said electronic circuit means selectively to operate in a standby, low power consumption mode or to operate in an active mode to supply second clock pulses to control operation of said second set of data processing operational circuits.

2. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second clock pulse generator means is further controlled by said first oscillator means responsive to predefined signals from said operator input means and to alternate predetermined mode signals from said electronic circuit means for operating in a standby, low power consumption mode or in an active mode to supply second clock pulses to control operation of said second set of data processing operational circuits.

3. The data processing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) an output means for generating an operator perceivable output; and

(b) controller means connected to said first oscillator means, said second oscillator means, said first clock pulse generator means, said second clock pulse generator means, and said operator input means, said controller means comprising;

(i) means for selectively operating each of said first and second oscillator means, and each of said first and second clock pulse generator means in said standby low power consumption mode in response to receiving an OFF signal;

(ii) means for selectively operating said first oscillator means and said first clock pulse generator means in said standby low power consumption mode and for selectively operating said second oscillator means and said second clock pulse generator means in said active mode in response to receiving an ON signal;

(iii) means for selectively operating said first oscillator means, said first clock pulse generator means and said second clock pulse generator means in said active mode and for selectively operating said second oscillator means in said standby, low power consumption mode in response to receiving one of said plurality of operation signals; and

(iv) means for selectively operating said first oscillator means, said first clock pulse generator means, said second clock pulse generator means, and said second oscillator means in said active mode in response to mode inputs indicative that said first set of data processing operational circuits is performing a data processing operation.

4. The data processing system as recited in claim 3, wherein:

said first set of data processing operational circuits includes arithmetic logic means; and

said second set of data processing operational circuits is coupled to said output means and includes an output interface means.

5. An electronic data processing system comprising:

(a) operator input means having means for generating an ON signal, an OFF signal and a plurality of operation signals; and

(b) electronic circuit means having an OFF mode, a process only mode, a display only mode and a process and display mode, comprising;

(1) controller means, connected to said operator input means, including means for selectively generating inactive first enable, first control, second enable and second control output when said electronic circuit is in the OFF mode, means for generating active first enable, first control and second control outputs and inactive second enable output when said electronic circuit is in the process only mode, means for generating active second enable and second control outputs and inactive first enable and first control outputs when said electronic circuit is in the display only mode, and means for generating active first enable, first control, second enable and second control outputs when said electronic circuit is in the processor and display mode;

(2) oscillator means, connected to said controller means, including first oscillator means for selectively generating a first frequency signal in response to receiving said active first enable output and operating in a low power standby mode in response to receiving said inactive first enable output, and second oscillator means for selectively generating a second frequency signal which has relatively low frequency as compared with said first frequency in response to receiving said active second enable output and operating in a low power standby mode in response to receiving said inactive second enable output;

(3) first clock generator means, connected to said controller means and said first oscillator means, for selectively generating first clock outputs in a cycling state at said first frequency in response to receiving said active first control output and said first frequency signal and generating a predefined steady state output in response to receiving said inactive first control output; and

(4) second clock generator means, connected to said controller means, said first oscillator means and said second oscillator means for selectively generating second clock outputs in a cycling state at said first frequency in response to receiving said active first control output, said inactive second control output and said first frequency signal, generating second clock outputs in a cycling state at said second frequency in response to receiving said active second control output, and generating a predefined steady output in response to receiving said inactive first control output and said inactive second control output.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein said electronic circuit further comprises:

processor means, connected to said first clock generator means, for selectively executing data processing functions corresponding to the received operation signals in response to receiving the first clock outputs in a cycling state; and

display interface means connected to said second clock generator means, for selectively generating operator perceivable outputs representative of the information to be output in response to receiving the second clock outputs in a cycling state.