Personal electronics device with a dual core processor

• US 7,231,531 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arm Ltd. (United Kingdom) (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Dualcor Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Cupps, Bryan T., Glass, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/377,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/322, 713/320, 713/324, 710/18
• US Class Current: 713/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3243 Power saving in microcontroller unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/509 Offload
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5027 the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5094 where the allocation takes into account power or heat criteria power management in computers in general G06F1/3203; thermal management in computers in general G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 : by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 : switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/029 : reducing the clock frequency of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A novel personal electronic device includes a processor having first (embedded) and second (non-embedded) cores including associated operating systems and functions. In one aspect, the first core performs relatively limited functions, while the second core performs relatively broader functions under control of the first core. Often the second core requires more power than the first core and is selectively operated by the first core to minimize overall power consumption. Protocols for functions to be performed by the second core may be provided directly to the second core and processed by the second core. In another aspect, a display controller is designed to interface with both cores. In another aspect, the operating systems work with one another. In another aspect, the first core employs a thermal control program. Advantages of the invention include a broad array of functions performed by a relatively small personal electronics device.

Claims

1. In combination for processing information in a hand-held device,

a hand held source of energy,

a first system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing first functions that are relatively simple,

a second system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing second functions more complicated than the first functions,

the first and second system processors being operably coupled to provide for the first system processor to regulate the operation of the second system processor, without instructions to the first system processor from the second system processor, in performing the individual ones of the second functions, and

a temperature regulator responsive to changes in the temperatures of the first and second system processor above a particular value for providing for variations in the frequency of operation of the first system processor to maintain the temperature of the first system processor below the particular value,

the first system processor being operative in accordance with the changes in the frequency of operation of the first system processor to change the frequency of operation of the second system processor in a direction to reduce the temperature of the second system processor below the particular value.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein

a temperature sensor for determining the temperatures of the first and several system processors and wherein

speed controls are responsive to the determinations from the temperature sensor for varying the frequency of operation of the first and second system processors in accordance with the temperature sensed in the system processors by the temperature sensor.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein

the frequency of the operation of the system processors is maintained at a first particular value and wherein the operation is interrupted at progressive times dependent upon the temperature in the system processors and wherein

the processors are disposed in a casing and wherein

the bottom of the casing is made from aluminum to provide a heat sync for the processors and wherein

the aluminum at the bottom of the casing is provided with dimples or undulations to increase the amount of heat dissipation in the processors.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the frequency of the operation of the system processors is maintained at a first particular value and wherein the operation of the system processors is interrupted at progressive times dependent upon the temperature in the system processors.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein

the system processors are disposed in a casing and wherein the bottom of the casing is made from aluminum to provide a heat sync for the system processors.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein

the aluminum at the bottom of the casing is provided with dimples or undulations to increase the amount of heat dissipation in the system processors.

7. A hand-held device for processing information, including

a hand-held source of energy,

a first system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing first functions that are relatively simple,

a second system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing second functions that are more complicated than the first functions,

the operation of the second system processor in performing the individual ones of the second functions being controlled by the first system processor without any guidance to the first system processor from the second system processor, and

the first system processor being responsive to temperatures above a particular value for regulating the speed of operation of the second system processor in performing the second functions to reduce the temperature of the system processor below the particular value.

8. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 7 wherein

the first system processor includes a first core and the second system processor includes a second core.

9. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 7 wherein

the first system processor and the second system processor include a dual core.

10. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 7 wherein

the second system processor is normally asleep and wherein

the second system processor is awakened by the first system processor, without any guidance to the first system processor from the second system processor, when the second system processor is to perform one of the second functions.

11. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 7 wherein

a temperature sensor measures the temperature of the system processors and wherein

a clock having a variable frequency is responsive to temperatures indicated by the temperature sensor above a particular value for interrupting the clock at times to obtain a reduction of the temperature in the system processors, to a temperature below the particular value.

12. A hand-held device for processing information, including

a hand-held source of energy,

a first system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing first functions that are relatively simple,

a second system processor operatively coupled to the source of energy for performing second functions that are more complicated than the first functions,

the operation of the second system processor in performing the individual ones of the second functions being controlled by the first system processor without any guidance to the first system processor from the second system processor, and

the first system processor being responsive to temperatures above a particular value for regulating the speed of operation of the second system processor in performing the second functions to reduce the temperature of the system processor below the particular value wherein

the second system processor includes a plurality of stages which operate in different combinations to perform individual ones of the second functions and wherein

the first system processor is operative at any time to activate the components which combine to perform an individual one of the second functions.

13. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 12 wherein

the second system processor is normally asleep and wherein

the second system processor is awakened by the first system processor without any guidance to the first system processor from the second system processor when the second system processor is to perform one of the second functions and wherein

a temperature sensor measures the temperature of the system processors and wherein

a clock having a variable frequency is responsive to temperatures indicated by the temperature sensor above a particular value for interrupting the clock at times to obtain a reduction of the temperature in the system processors to a temperature below the particular value and wherein

the first system processor includes a first core and the second system processor includes a second core.

14. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 12 wherein

the second system processor is normally asleep and wherein

the second system processor is awakened by the first system processor, without any guidance to the first system processor from the second system processor, when the second system processor is to perform one of the second functions and wherein

a temperature sensor measures the temperature of the system processors and wherein

a clock having a variable frequency is responsive to temperatures indicated by the temperature sensor above a particular value for interrupting the clock at times to obtain a reduction of the temperature in the system processors to a temperature below the particular value and wherein

the first system processor and the second system processor include a dual core.

15. A hand-held device for processing information, including

an embedded system processor for performing relatively simple functions,

a non-embedded system processor for performing functions more complicated than the relatively simple functions,

the operation of the non-embedded system processor in performing individual ones of the more complicated functions being controlled by the embedded system processor independently of the operation of the non-embedded system processor,

the operation of the non-embedded system processor in performing individual ones of the more complicated functions being controlled by a clock operative at a particular clock rate when the temperature of the system processor is below a particular value,

the clock rate for the operation of the non-embedded system processor in performing individual ones of the more complicated functions being reduced by the embedded system processor, without any guidance to the embedded processor from the non-embedded processor, when the temperature of the non-embedded system processor is above the particular temperature, thereby causing the temperature of the system processors to be reduced below the particular temperature.

16. A hand-held device as set forth in claim 15 wherein

the non-embedded system processor is normally in a sleep state and wherein

the non-embedded system processor is awakened by the embedded system processor independently of any operation of the non-embedded system processor and wherein

the temperature of the system processors is determined by a temperature sensor disposed near the system processors and wherein

the system processors are cooled by a heat sync disposed near the bottom of the system processors.

17. A hand-held personal electronic device, including,

an integrated circuit chip,

an energy source,

a first processor disposed on the integrated circuit chip and powered by the energy source and constructed to perform relatively simple functions,

a second processor disposed on the integrated circuit chip in spaced relationship to the first processor and powered by the energy source and constructed to perform a plurality of functions each more complex than the simple functions,

the operation of the second processor in performing the more complex functions being controlled by the first processor independently of the operation of the second processor, and

power management circuitry disposed on the integrated circuit chip in spaced relationship to the first and second processors for managing the relative amount of power introduced by the energy source to the first and second processors in accordance with the functions being performed by the first and second processors wherein

the second processor includes a plurality of components and wherein

each of the more complex functions employs a limited number of the components and wherein

the first processor is operative independently of the operation of the second processor to activate only the limited number of the components utilized by the second processor in performing an individual one of the more complex functions.

18. A hand-held electronic device, including

an integrated circuit chip,

an energy source,

a first processor disposed on the integrated circuit chip and connected to the energy source to perform relatively simple functions,

a second processor disposed on the integrated circuit chip and connected to the energy source to perform relatively complicated functions in comparison to the relatively simple functions performed by the first processor,

the operation of the second processor in performing the relatively complicated functions being controlled by the first processor without any guidance to the first processor from the second processor, and

a bus disposed on the integrated circuit chip and connected to the first and second processors for providing energy for operating the first and second processors wherein

the second processor includes a plurality of components and wherein

each of the relatively complicated functions is performed in the second processor by a combination of individual ones of the components and wherein

the first processor activates the individual ones of the components, without any guidance to the first processor from the second processor, for obtaining a performance by the second processor of an individual one of the relatively complicated functions.