Microcontroller input/output connector state retention in low-power modes
First Claim
1. A microcontroller operable in a low-power mode, the microcontroller comprising:
- one or more I/O connectors;
an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors, wherein the I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode; and
I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller, wherein the I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microcontroller is operable in a low-power mode and includes one or more I/O connectors, as well as an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors. The I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode. The microcontroller also includes I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller. The I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microcontroller operable in a low-power mode, the microcontroller comprising:
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one or more I/O connectors; an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors, wherein the I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode; and I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller, wherein the I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A microcontroller operable in a low-power mode, the microcontroller comprising:
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one or more I/O connectors; an I/O controller operable to provide control signals for controlling a state of a particular one of the I/O connectors, wherein the I/O controller is powered off or deactivated during the low-power mode; I/O connector state control logic operable to control the state of the particular one of the I/O connectors in accordance with the control signals from the I/O controller, wherein the I/O connector state control logic includes I/O connector state retention logic that retains respective states of the control signals and maintains the particular I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the retained control signals while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode, thereby executing an I/O connector state retention function; a power state manager; and a user interface that, depending on a value stored in a register of the user interface, allows either automated I/O connector state retention by the power state manager or user-controlled I/O connector state retention. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of retaining the state of an I/O connector of a microcontroller, the method comprising:
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generating, from an I/O controller in the microcontroller, one or more control signals for controlling a state of the I/O connector; causing the microcontroller to enter a low-power mode of operation, in which the I/O controller is powered off or deactivated; storing information indicative of the respective states of the one or more control signals prior to the I/O controller becoming powered off or deactivated; and maintaining the I/O connector in a corresponding state in accordance with the stored information while the microcontroller is in the low-power mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification