ULTRA LOW POWER APPARATUS AND METHOD TO WAKE UP A MAIN PROCESSOR
First Claim
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 when a sub-processor that controls the sensor is in a sleep mode;
sending by the sensor an sensed 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 sensed signal and evaluate data received from the sensor;
wherein when the sub-processor determines that the sensing data received from the sensor has reached a predetermined threshold value or is within a predetermined range of validity, the sub-processor sending a signal to wake up a main processor that is coupled to the sub-processor.
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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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of waking up a main processor in an ultra-low power electronic device, said method comprising:
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monitoring for a predetermined condition by sensor when a sub-processor that controls the sensor is in a sleep mode; sending by the sensor an sensed 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 sensed signal and evaluate data received from the sensor; wherein when the sub-processor determines that the sensing data received from the sensor has reached a predetermined threshold value or is within a predetermined range of validity, the sub-processor sending a signal to wake up a main processor that is coupled to the sub-processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ultra-low power wake up apparatus comprising:
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a sub-processor including an interface for communicating with a main processor, said 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 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 signal over the communication interface to wake up the main processor 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification