Device for controlling the operation of a radiocommunication electronic module, and corresponding electronic circuit

• US 8,838,039 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Du, Chieng Kieng, Pauly, Frdric
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woodall, Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/746,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 455/68
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A device is provided for controlling operation of a radiocommunication electronic module using a control signal. The device includes a circuit for switching the control signal between a high logic state and a low logic state or vice versa, and a circuit for controlling the switching circuit. The control circuit generates a control signal. The module includes an activation input receiving the control signal. The control circuit includes: a first input receiving a first signal representative of a supply voltage; and a second input receiving a second signal from the module.

Claims

1. A device for controlling operation of a radiocommunication electronic module by a control signal, said device comprising:

a switching circuit having a control output for controlling the operation of the radiocommunication module and having a command input, wherein the switching circuit is configured to generate the control signal on the control output and switch a logic state of the control signal, from a logic high state to a logic low state or from the logic low state to the logic high state, once for each command signal received on the command input, and wherein said switching circuit is configured to maintain said control signal in its current logic state between successive command signals received on the command input; and

a command circuit comprising;

a first input receiving a first pulse representative of a change of state of a supply voltage;

a second input receiving a second pulse coming from said module; and

a command output coupled to the command input of the switching circuit,

wherein the command circuit is configured to generate the command signal on the command output once for each pulse received on the first or second inputs to the command circuit; and

means for generating the first pulse in response to the supply voltage switching from an inactive state to an active state.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said command circuit comprises an OR logic gate receiving said first and second signals, and delivering said command signal.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a latch receiving on a first latch input said command signal and delivering at a latch output said control signal; and

a feedback, which connects the latch output to a second latch input of said latch.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said feedback includes an inverter.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises:

a supply terminal receiving the supply voltage, which has an inactive state and an active state;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the supply terminal and a having pulse output coupled to the first input of the command circuit, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate the first pulse on the pulse output in response to the supply voltage switching from the inactive state to the active state.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said pulse generator comprises:

means for receiving the supply voltage and in response generating a slowed signal having a slower rise time than the switch of the voltage signal from the inactive state to the active state; and

means for comparing said slowed signal with a determined threshold, said means for comparing delivering the first pulse according to a result of the comparison.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the means for receiving and generating comprise an RC circuit.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said means for comparing include an inverter.

9. A radiocommunication device comprising a device for controlling according to claim 1.

10. An assembly comprising:

a supply terminal receiving a supply voltage having an inactive state and an active state;

a radiocommunication electronic module having an operation controlled by a control signal, wherein said module comprises;

an ON/OFF activation input receiving said control signal, wherein said module is configured to turn on a software stack executed by the module when the ON/OFF activation input has a logic high state and to turn off the software stack when the ON/OFF activation input has a logic low state;

a module output;

means for generating a signal second pulse on the module output; and

means for executing a set of commands, said set of commands comprising at least one AT command belonging to the group comprising;

a command that activates said means for generating;

a command that programs a real time clock internal to said module; and

a command that turns off the software stack of said module;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the supply terminal and a having pulse output, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate a first pulse on the pulse output in response to the supply voltage switching from the inactive state to the active state;

an activation control device, which comprises;

a switching circuit having a command input and having a control output, which is coupled to the ON/OFF activation input of the module, wherein the switching circuit is configured to generate the control signal on the control output and switch a logic state of the control signal, from a logic high state to a logic low state or from the logic low state to the logic high state, once for each command signal received on the command input, and wherein said switching circuit is configured to maintain the control signal in its current logic state between successive command signals received on the control input; and

a command circuit comprising;

a first input coupled to the pulse output of the pulse generator for receiving the first pulse;

a second input coupled to the module output for receiving said second pulse; and

a command output coupled to the command input of the switching circuit signal, wherein the command circuit is configured to generate the command signal on the command output once for each pulse received on the first or second inputs to the command circuit.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said pulse generator comprises:

means for receiving the supply voltage and in response generating a slowed signal having a slower rise time than the switch of the voltage signal from the inactive state to the active state; and

means for comparing said slowed signal with a determined threshold, said means for comparing delivering the first pulse according to a result of the comparison.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the means for receiving and generating comprise an RC circuit.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein said means for comparing include an inverter.

14. A device for controlling operation of a radiocommunication electronic module by a control signal, said device comprising:

a supply terminal receiving a supply voltage having an inactive state and an active state;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the supply terminal and a having pulse output, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate a first pulse on the pulse output in response to the supply voltage switching from the inactive state to the active state;

a command circuit comprising;

a first input coupled to the pulse output of the pulse generator for the first pulse;

a second input receiving a second pulse coming from said module; and

a command output, wherein the command circuit is configured to generate a command signal on the command output once for each pulse received on the first or second inputs to the command circuit; and

a switching circuit having a command input coupled to the command output of the command circuit and a control output for controlling the operation of the radiocommunication module, wherein the switching circuit is configured to generate the control signal on the control output and to switch a logic state of the control signal, from a logic high state to a logic low state or from the logic low state to the logic high state, once for each command signal received on the command input, and wherein said switching circuit is configured to maintain said control signal in its current logic state between successive command signals received on the control input.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said pulse generator comprises:

means for receiving the supply voltage and in response generating a slowed signal having a slower rise time than the switch of the voltage signal from the inactive state to the active state; and

means for comparing said slowed signal with a determined threshold, said means for comparing delivering the first pulse according to a result of the comparison.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein said means for comparing include an inverter.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the means for receiving and generating comprise an RC circuit.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the means for receiving and generating further comprise a pull-down resistor coupled to an output of the RC circuit.

19. A device for controlling operation of a radiocommunication electronic module, said device comprising:

means for receiving a supply voltage having an inactive state and an active state;

means for generating a first pulse in response to the supply voltage switching from the inactive state to the active state;

means for receiving a second pulse from the radiocommunication electronic device; and

means for supplying an ON/OFF activation control signal to the radiocommunication module and toggling a logic state of the control signal once for each received first pulse and second pulse.