Power-conserving control system for turning-off the power and the clocking for data transactions upon certain system inactivity
First Claim
1. In a control system for conducting clocked data transactions between a central control station and one or more remote controllers connected therewith, means for clocking said central control station and said remote controllers for said data transactions, the central control station including electronic signal processing means for controlling data transactions and for controlling said clocking of said transactions, said control system being powered by a limited capacity electrical power source, and said clocking for data transactions consumming power at said central control station and at said remote controllers, the improvement comprising:
- power switch means coupled to the power source and to a portion of said central control station for selectively connecting or disconnecting said power source to said central control station portion in response to respective power-connect or power-disconnect control signal, said central control station and said remote controllers each comprising large-scale integrated circuitry;
at least one of said remote controllers for connecting with data input means for receiving certain input data,said signal processing means monitoring input data to said at least one of said remote controllers via said data input means and, in response to said input data being representative of a predetermined condition of inactivity, entering a power-down control mode for issuing a clocking control signal for terminating said clocking at said central control station and a power-down control signal;
timing means for timing a predetermined interval during which power is disconnected from said central control station portion and for generating a power-up control signal at the end of said interval; and
control circuit means coupled to said power switch means and responsive to said power-down control signal for generating said power-disconnect control signa and responsive to said power-up control signal for generating said power-connect control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system, as for controlling automotive body functions, is powered by a limited capacity electrical power source and is structured and controlled in a manner to minimize consumption of electrical power. The control system conducts data transactions between a central control station and one or more remote controllers connected therewith, and the central control station includes a provision for electronic signal processing for controlling the data transactions with the remote controllers. A power FET is operatively connected to the power source and to a portion of the control system for selectively connecting or disconnecting power to that control system portion. The system employs a NMOS microprocessor. The portion of the control system from which power may be disconnected will typically include the processor. The level of system activity is monitored and a power-down, or "sleep" control signal is automatically provided if a predetermined condition of inactivity occurs. That power-down control signal is operatively applied to certain control circuitry for in turn causing the power switch to disconnect power when the power-down control results. Correspondingly, a timer, which preferably is continuously powered, times a "sleep" interval during which power is disconnected from the relevant control system portion and generates a power-up control signal at the end of some predetermined time. The control circuitry responds to this power-up control signal by causing the power switch to reapply power to the previously disconnected portions of the control system.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a control system for conducting clocked data transactions between a central control station and one or more remote controllers connected therewith, means for clocking said central control station and said remote controllers for said data transactions, the central control station including electronic signal processing means for controlling data transactions and for controlling said clocking of said transactions, said control system being powered by a limited capacity electrical power source, and said clocking for data transactions consumming power at said central control station and at said remote controllers, the improvement comprising:
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power switch means coupled to the power source and to a portion of said central control station for selectively connecting or disconnecting said power source to said central control station portion in response to respective power-connect or power-disconnect control signal, said central control station and said remote controllers each comprising large-scale integrated circuitry; at least one of said remote controllers for connecting with data input means for receiving certain input data, said signal processing means monitoring input data to said at least one of said remote controllers via said data input means and, in response to said input data being representative of a predetermined condition of inactivity, entering a power-down control mode for issuing a clocking control signal for terminating said clocking at said central control station and a power-down control signal; timing means for timing a predetermined interval during which power is disconnected from said central control station portion and for generating a power-up control signal at the end of said interval; and control circuit means coupled to said power switch means and responsive to said power-down control signal for generating said power-disconnect control signa and responsive to said power-up control signal for generating said power-connect control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification