Device and method of establishing sleep mode architecture for NVSRAMs
First Claim
1. A method of operating a device alternatively in a normal power mode, an auto-store power mode and a sleep power mode, wherein the device is configured to be divided into a normal, an auto-store and a sleep power domains, the method comprising:
- receiving an indication at the sleep power domain to transition the device from the sleep power mode into the normal power mode;
monitoring a state of the auto-store power domain during the transition;
storing an n-bit semaphore value by a controller in a particular storage location in the auto-store power domain when the state of the auto-store power domain is such that reliable data transfer may take place to and from circuits outside of the auto-store power domain;
monitoring contents of the particular storage location in an ongoing fashion, wherein the particular storage location is a register; and
removing isolation for signals to and from the auto-store power domain.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device is configured to establish first and second device power domains. Isolation circuits isolate signals from passing between circuits in the first device power domain and circuits in the second device power domain. During a transition between power domains, an n-bit value is stored in a particular storage location, and compared to a particular n-bit value. Isolation between the first and second device power domains is removed when the n-bit value stored in the particular storage location matches the particular n-bit value.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a device alternatively in a normal power mode, an auto-store power mode and a sleep power mode, wherein the device is configured to be divided into a normal, an auto-store and a sleep power domains, the method comprising:
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receiving an indication at the sleep power domain to transition the device from the sleep power mode into the normal power mode; monitoring a state of the auto-store power domain during the transition; storing an n-bit semaphore value by a controller in a particular storage location in the auto-store power domain when the state of the auto-store power domain is such that reliable data transfer may take place to and from circuits outside of the auto-store power domain; monitoring contents of the particular storage location in an ongoing fashion, wherein the particular storage location is a register; and removing isolation for signals to and from the auto-store power domain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of operating a device in a normal power mode, an auto-store power mode and a sleep power mode selectively and alternatively, the method comprising:
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establishing a normal and an auto-store power domains in the device; isolating, using isolation logic, circuits in the normal power domain from circuits in the auto-store power domain; storing, using a controller, an n-bit value in a particular storage location wherein n is greater than 1; comparing, using control logic, the n-bit value stored in the particular storage location with a predetermined particular n-bit semaphore value; and removing isolation, using the isolation logic, between the normal and the auto-store power domains when the n-bit value stored in the particular storage location matches the predetermined particular n-bit semaphore value. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device configured to operate selectively and alternatively in a normal power mode, an auto-store power mode and a sleep power mode, the device comprising:
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a first device power domain that is a normal power domain; and a second device power domain that is an auto-store power domain, wherein the second device power domain includes; at least one isolation logic configured to provide isolation between circuits in the first device power domain and circuits in the second device power domain, a controller configured to store an n-bit value in a register logic, a control logic configured to compare the n-bit value stored in the register logic with a particular n-bit semaphore value and control operation of the at least one isolation logic, wherein the isolation logic is to remove the isolation between the circuits of the first and second device power domains when the n-bit value stored in the register logic matches the particular n-bit semaphore value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification