Power regulation system and method for a portable electronic device

• US 7,260,732 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bittner, Ray A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James K
• Application Number:
  US10/900,770
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 713/324
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A power regulating system and method are provided for regulating power in a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes microprocessing and radio communication capabilities. The power regulating system utilizes a number of power states to regulate the device'"'"'s internal power source voltage. The power regulating system operates to selectively control and regulate the device'"'"'s internal power consumption based on the power state of the device, and thereby extends the useful life of the device by prolonging the battery life of the device.

Claims

1. A method for regulating power consumption of a portable low-power computer device having associated hardware and software by regulating an internal power source of the device, comprising:

(a) activating the device by applying an internal power supply voltage from the internal power source to the device;

(b) regulating the power supply voltage based on a first power state of the device by using at least one of a plurality of voltage regulators to regulate the power supply voltage of the internal power source;

(c) transitioning from the first power state to a second power state;

(d) regulating the power supply voltage based on the second power state of the device by using at least one of the plurality of voltage regulators to regulate the power supply voltage of the internal power source;

(e) determining an amount of power remaining in the internal power source;

(f) enabling a system clock having an operating frequency in megahertz to a drive a processing section of a microprocessor of the device; and

(g) generating a slow clock having an operating frequency in kilohertz to drive a real-time section of the microprocessor of the device, wherein the processing section of the microprocessor is disabled when the real-time section is enabled.

2. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises using a switching regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a DIGITAL RUN, IDLE, or RESET state.

3. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 2, further comprising:

driving the real-time clock sections of the microprocessor with the slow clock when the first power state is an IDLE state.

4. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises using at least one linear regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a RADIO RUN or HIBERNATION state.

5. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 4, further comprising:

(h) disabling the system clock when the first power state is a RADIO RUN or HIBERNATION state; and

(i) driving the real-time clock sections of the microprocessor when the first power state is a RADIO RUN or HIBERNATION state.

6. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises using a first linear regulator and a second linear regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a RADIO RUN state.

7. The method for regulating power in the device as in claim 1, wherein (c) further comprises activating a RESET sequence when a user of the device manipulates a chord.

8. A method of regulating power of a portable electronic device having a radio, microprocessor, software, and an internal power supply, comprising:

determining a power state of the device, wherein the power state corresponds to a radio state when the radio is enabled for receiving signals, and wherein the power state corresponds to a non-radio state when the radio is disabled from receiving signals;

disabling the processing section of the microprocessor if the power state of the device is a first state;

enabling the processing section of the microprocessor when the power state of the device is a second state;

enabling a real-time section of the microprocessor when the power state of the device is the first state;

maintaining power to the microprocessor with either a switching regulator or a linear regulator;

selecting the switching regulator for the internal power supply when the power state of the device corresponds to the first state; and

selecting the linear regulator for the internal power supply when the power state of the device corresponds to the second state.

9. A device for receiving, navigating, and displaying content, comprising:

an internal power supply having a power supply voltage;

a microprocessor that is operated from the power supply voltage, wherein the microprocessor includes a real-time section that is operated with a slow clock and a processing section that is operated with a system clock;

a radio having transmitting and receiving operability;

software applications;

a display;

a power regulation system utilizing one or more device power states and configured to disable the processing section of the microprocessor while also enabling the real-time section of the microprocessor when the power state of the device is a radio state and to enable the processing section of the microprocessor when the power state is not a radio state or another select power state; and

a user interface.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the power regulation system further comprises a switching regulator for regulating the power supply during a first power state of the device;

and,

at least one linear regulator for regulating the power supply during a second power state of the device.

11. The device of claim 10, further configured to enable the switching regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a DIGITAL RUN, IDLE, or RESET state.

12. The device of claim 10, further configured to disables the system clock of and to enable the slow clock having an operating frequency of about 25 kHz to drive real-time clock sections of the microprocessor when the first power state is an IDLE state.

13. The device of claim 10, further configured to enable the system clock having an operating frequency of about 27.6 MHz to drive the microprocessor and the slow clock having an operating frequency of about 25 kHz to drive real-time clock sections of the microprocessor when the first power state is a RESET or DIGITAL RUN state.

14. The device of claim 10, further configured to enable at least one linear regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a RADIO RUN or HIBERNATION state.

15. The device of claim 10, further configured to enable first and second linear regulators to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the first power state is a RADIO RUN state.

16. The device of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of buttons used to activate or disable the device, wherein at least two buttons define a chord.

17. The device of claim 16, further configured to activate a RESET sequence when a user of the device manipulates a chord.

18. A device for receiving, navigating, and displaying content, comprising:

an internal power supply having a power supply voltage;

a microprocessor including a real-time section that is responsive to a local clock that is operated in kilohertz and a processing section that is responsive to a system clock that is operated in megahertz;

a radio having transmitting and receiving operability;

a display;

a means for regulating the internal power supply voltage of the device based on a power state of the device and configured to disable the processing section of the microprocessor if the power state of the device is a radio state and enable the processing section of the microprocessor when the power state is not a radio state or another select power state; and

a user interface.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the means for regulating the internal power supply is configured to enable a switching regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the power state of the device is a DIGITAL RUN, IDLE, or RESET state.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the means for regulating the internal power supply is configured to enable at least one linear regulator to regulate the internal power supply voltage when the power state of the device is a RADIO RUN or HIBERNATION state.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the means for regulating the internal power supply is configured to disable a switching regulator, at least one linear regulator, and one or more device clocks when the power state of the device is a DEAD state.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of buttons used to activate or disable the device, wherein at least two buttons define a chord.

23. The device of claim 22, further configured to activate a RESET sequence when a user of the device manipulates a chord.