Wake-up circuits, devices and methods for galvanic isolators
First Claim
1. A method of reducing the amount of power consumed by a galvanic isolator, comprising:
- transmitting a wake-up signal across an isolation medium from a transmitter when the transmitter is ready or preparing to transmit data or power signals to a receiver operably connected to a sensing circuit;
receiving, with the sensing circuit, the wake-up signal through the isolation medium;
in response to the sensing circuit receiving the wake-up signal, powering the receiver up from a sleep mode to an operating mode;
after a period of time tRDY has passed since the wake-up signal was transmitted, transmitting a signature pattern from the transmitter to the sensing circuit through the isolation medium;
verifying, with the sensing circuit or the receiver, the validity of the signature pattern and, if the signature pattern is determined to be valid, enabling the receiver to receive the data or power signals;
transmitting the data or power signals from the transmitter through the isolation medium, andreceiving, with the receiver, the data or power signals.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of reducing the amount of power consumed by a galvanic isolator. A transmitter transmits a wake-up signal to a receiver located across an isolation medium when the transmitter is ready or preparing to transmit data or power signals to a receiver, which is operably connected to a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit receives the wake-up signal through the isolation medium, which may be operably connected to and powered substantially continuously or intermittently by a first power source. In response to the sensing circuit receiving the wake-up signal, the receiver is powered up from a sleep mode to an operating mode. After a period of time tRDY has passed since the wake-up signal was transmitted, a signature pattern is transmitted from the transmitter to the sensing circuit through the isolation medium. Next, the sensing circuit or the receiver verifies the validity of the signature pattern. If the signature pattern is determined at to be valid, the receiver is enabled to receive the data or power signals from the transmitter. The transmitter then transmits the data or power signals from the transmitter through the isolation medium to the receiver.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method of reducing the amount of power consumed by a galvanic isolator, comprising:
-
transmitting a wake-up signal across an isolation medium from a transmitter when the transmitter is ready or preparing to transmit data or power signals to a receiver operably connected to a sensing circuit; receiving, with the sensing circuit, the wake-up signal through the isolation medium; in response to the sensing circuit receiving the wake-up signal, powering the receiver up from a sleep mode to an operating mode; after a period of time tRDY has passed since the wake-up signal was transmitted, transmitting a signature pattern from the transmitter to the sensing circuit through the isolation medium; verifying, with the sensing circuit or the receiver, the validity of the signature pattern and, if the signature pattern is determined to be valid, enabling the receiver to receive the data or power signals; transmitting the data or power signals from the transmitter through the isolation medium, and receiving, with the receiver, the data or power signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A reduced power consumption galvanic isolator, comprising:
-
a transmitter; a receiver having a sensing circuit operably connected thereto; a galvanic isolation medium located between the transmitter and the receiver; wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a wake-up signal across the isolation medium to the sensing circuit when the transmitter is ready or preparing to transmit data or power signals to the receiver, the sensing circuit is configured to receive the wake-up signal and cause the receiver to be powered up from a sleep mode to an operating mode when the wake-up signal is received, the transmitter further being configured to transmit a signature pattern to the sensing circuit or the receiver after a period of time tRDY has passed since the wake-up signal was transmitted, the sensing circuit or the receiver being configured to verify the validity of the signature pattern and, if the signature pattern is determined to be valid, to enable the receiver to receive the data or power signals, the receiver being configured to consume a reduced amount of electrical power during the sleep mode with respect to the operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification