Computer system power management interconnection circuitry and systems

• US 5,727,221 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Walsh, James J., Kau, Weiyuen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,579
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 395/733, 364/488-492, 364/707, 428/209, 365/227
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device

Abstract

A microcomputer integrated circuit (102) has a central processing unit (CPU) (702) first power management circuit (708) responsive to a system management interrupt (SMI) input for controlling operations of the CPU (702). A card interface integrated circuit (112) is adapted for coupling a card (24) to the microcomputer integrated circuit (102) and has a second power management circuit logic (1620, 1630) that responds to a plurality of interrupt event inputs (in CSC REGs A, B) and concentrates these inputs to a single card system management interrupt output (CRDSMI#). A peripheral processor integrated circuit (110) has a third power management circuit (920) including a plurality of system management interrupt (SMI) sources, and a SMI unit (2370). The SMI unit (2370) has an output (SMI#) connected to the SMI input of the microprocessor integrated circuit. The SMI unit (2370) responds to the card SMI output of the card interface integrated circuit (112) as well as the plurality of SMI sources. The plurality of SMI sources includes timer circuitry (2350) connected to power down terminals (IDEPWR#, FDDPWR#, SIUPWR#, PCSPWR#) for connection to external peripherals upon respective timeouts in the timer circuitry (2350). Other circuits, systems and methods are also described.

Claims

1. An electronic wiring board article of manufacture comprising:

a printed wiring board having a substantially insulative planar board element and conductors in or on said board element;

a first integrated circuit attached to said printed wiring board and having a central processing unit (CPU) and a first power management circuit having a system management interrupt (SMI) input;

a second integrated circuit attached to said printed wiring board and having a second power management circuit responsive to one or more interrupt event inputs and concentrating these inputs to a single system management interrupt (SMI) output;

a third integrated circuit attached to said printed wiring board and having a third power management circuit including one or more system management interrupt (SMI) sources, said third power management circuit having an output connected to said SMI input of said first integrated circuit, and said third power management circuit responsive to said SMI output of said second integrated circuit as well as said one or more SMI sources; and

said conductors of said printed wiring board providing connection between said first integrated circuit, said second integrated circuit and said third integrated circuit.

2. The electronic wiring board article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more SMI sources include timer circuitry connected to power down terminals for connection to external peripherals upon respective timeouts in said timer circuitry.

3. The electronic wiring board article of manufacture as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a display controller integrated circuit attached to said printed wiring board and controllable by a suspend signal, said third power management circuit having a further circuit responsive to said timer circuitry and having a suspend output to supply said suspend signal.