Ultra low power apparatus and method to wake up a main processor

• US 9,430,024 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Heo, Changryong, Park, Kenhyung, Park, Kiyeon, Kim, Yongyi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US14/011,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320, 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An apparatus and method for waking up a main processor (MP) in a low power or ultra-low power device preferably includes the MP, and a sub-processor (SP) that utilizes less power than the MP to monitor ambient conditions than the MP, and may be internalized in the MP. The MP and SP can remain in a sleep mode while an interrupt sensor monitors for changes in the ambient environment. A sensor is preferably an interrupt-type sensor, as opposed to polling-type sensors conventionally used to detect ambient changes. The MP and SP may remain in sleep mode, as a low-power or an ultra-low power interrupt sensor operates with the SP being in sleep mode, and awakens the SP via an interrupt indicating a detected change. The SP then wakes the MP after comparing data from the interrupt sensor with values in storage or with another sensor.

Claims

1. A method of waking up a main processor in an ultra-low power electronic device, said method comprising:

monitoring for a predetermined condition by sensor coupled to a sub-processor when the sub-processor that controls the sensor is in a sleep mode;

sending by the sensor a data signal to the sub-processor upon sensing a change in the predetermined condition being monitored, said sub-processor being configured to wake up from sleep mode upon receiving the data signal and evaluate data received from the sensor to determine whether or not to wake up a main processor;

wherein when the sub-processor determines that the data signal received from the sensor has reached a predetermined threshold value or is within a predetermined range of validity, the sub-processor sending a wake up signal to wake up the main processor that is coupled to the sub-processor,

wherein the sensor comprises an audio sensor or microphone that senses sound received that is within a predetermined range or has reached a predetermined threshold value, and

wherein the audio sensor or microphone is coupled to the sub-processor, and when the sub-processor wakes the main processor, determining by the main processor whether an audible sound is a voice input to unlock or operate an application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an interrupt sensor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an ultra-low power microphone, piezoelectric sensor, pressure sensor, motion sensor, IR gesture sensor, accelerometer, gyro sensor that is active while main processor is in sleep mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises a voice through the microphone.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the voice is detected and the sub-processor is awakened, unlocking the electronic device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the main processor is awakened, operating the electronic device after determining receipt of a voice command.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor, when the sub-processor is awakened, sends a sensed signal and sensing data to the sub-processor, the sub-processor determines that the received sensed signal from the sensor has sensing data received from the sensor changing in the predetermined condition.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises an ambient environment of the electronic device, and the sensor monitors the ambient environment either periodically or continuously.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-processor comprises one of a sensing processor, a sensor hub, and a Micro Controller Unit (MCU).

10. An ultra-low power wake up apparatus comprising:

a sub-processor including an interface for communicating with a main processor, the sub-processor having at least a sleep mode and an operating mode;

a sensor in communication with the sub-processor, said sensor monitors a predetermined condition when the main processor is in the sleep mode;

wherein said sensor sends an interrupt signal to the sub-processor upon sensing a change in the condition being monitored, said sub-processor being configured to wake up from the sleep mode and evaluate data provided from the sensor; and

wherein said sub-processor being further configured to send a wake up signal over the communication interface to wake up the main processor for identifying data provided from the sensor when the sub-processor determines that the data received from the sensor is at a predetermined threshold value or within a predetermined range of validity,

wherein the sensor comprises an audio sensor or microphone that senses sound received that is within a predetermined range or has reached a predetermined threshold value,

wherein the audio sensor or microphone is coupled to the sub-processor, and when the sub-processor wakes the main processor, the main processor determines whether an audible sound is a voice input to unlock or operate an application.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is an interrupt sensor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the interrupt sensor comprises the microphone, when both the sub-processor and processor are in a sleep mode the microphone is active to detect sound.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable communication terminal configured for wireless communication comprising:

a controller including the main processor and the sub-processor;

a non-transitory memory;

an RF communication unit coupled to the controller;

a touchscreen;

a network communication unit; and

an interrupt sensor sending the interrupt signal to the sub-processor upon detecting a change in an ambient environment of the portable communication terminal.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an ultra-low power microphone, piezoelectric sensor, pressure sensor, motion sensor, IR gesture sensor, accelerometer, gyro sensor that is active while the main processor is in sleep mode.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises a voice through the microphone.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sub-processor is configured to unlock the low power wake up apparatus when a voice is detected, the main processor configured to operate the low power wake up apparatus.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor, when the sub-processor is awakened, sends a signal comprising sensing data to the sub-processor, the sub-processor determines whether a change has occurred in the predetermined condition that necessitates waking the main processor.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to operate at an ultra-low power level and senses whether a change in the predetermined condition being monitored occurs, and the sensor sends an interrupt to the sub-processor upon detection of the change in the predetermined condition being monitored.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the audio sensor comprises an ultra low-power microphone.