Electronic device including motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit and related methods

• US 7,084,762 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Pedrazzini, Giorgio, Vigna, Bendetto, Lasalandra, Ernesto
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/340,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.5, 340/566, 340/686.1, 340/870.05, 340/870.11, 736/52, 307/121, 363/21, 363/50, 363/53, 363/56, 385/18, 257/415
• US Class Current: 340/545.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An electronic device includes a motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit, which, in turn, includes a power switch connected between an input and an output, and a MEMS inertial sensing switch movable from a first position to a second position based upon motion thereof. The motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit also includes a detector operating the power switch to supply power to the output from the input based upon the MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position. The first and second positions may be, respectively, a normally open position and a closed position. The device may be unpowered until the MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the open to the closed position. The detector may generate a power on reset (POR) signal based upon the MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the open to the closed position.

Claims

1. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit comprising:

an input for connecting to a power supply;

an output for connecting to a circuit to be selectively powered;

a power switch connected between said input and said output;

at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch being movable from a normally open position to a closed position based upon motion thereof; and

a detector operating said power switch to supply power to said output from said input based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the normally open position to the closed position.

2. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said detector remains unpowered until said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the normally open position to the closed position.

3. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said detector latches said power switch on based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the normally open position to the closed position.

4. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said detector further generates a power on reset (POR) signal based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the normally open position to the closed position.

5. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 4 further comprising a POR external pin connected to said detector.

6. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches connected in parallel.

7. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches each responsive to movement along a respective different axis of movement.

8. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said power switch comprises at least one transistor having respective conduction terminals connected in series between the input and output.

9. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 8 wherein said at least one transistor further has a control terminal connected to said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector.

10. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said power switch comprises at least one MOS transistor.

11. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 wherein said input comprises a first external pin and said output comprises a second external pin.

12. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 1 further comprising an external ground pin connected to said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector.

13. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit comprising:

an external input pin for connecting to a power supply;

an external output pin for connecting to a circuit to be selectively powered;

a power switch connected between said external input pin and said external output pin;

at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch being movable from a normally open position to a closed position based upon motion thereof; and

a detector remaining unpowered until said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the normally open position to the closed position, and latching said power switch to supply power to said external output pin from said external input pin based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the normally open position to the closed position.

14. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 13 wherein said detector further generates a power on reset (POR) signal based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the normally open position to the closed position.

15. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 14 further comprising a POR external pin connected to said detector.

16. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 13 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches connected in parallel.

17. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 13 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches each responsive to movement along a respective different axis of movement.

18. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 13 wherein said power switch comprises at least one transistor having respective conduction terminals connected in series between the input and output.

19. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 18 wherein said at least one transistor further has a control terminal connected to said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector.

20. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 13 further comprising an external ground pin connected to said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector.

21. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit comprising:

an input for connecting to a power supply;

an output for connecting to a circuit to be selectively powered;

a power switch connected between said input and said output;

at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch being movable from a first position to a second position based upon motion thereof; and

a detector operating said power switch to supply power to said output from said input based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position;

said detector further generating a power on reset (POR) signal based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

22. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 21 wherein said detector remains unpowered until said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the first position to the second position.

23. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 21 wherein said detector latches said power switch on based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

24. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 21 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches connected in parallel.

25. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 21 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches each responsive to movement along a respective different axis of movement.

26. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 21 wherein said power switch comprises at least one transistor having respective conduction terminals connected in series between the input and output.

27. A motion sensitive power switching integrated circuit according to claim 26 wherein said at least one transistor further has a control terminal connected to said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector.

28. An electronic device comprising:

a power switch connected between an input and an output;

at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch being movable from a first position to a second position based upon motion thereof; and

a detector operating said power switch to supply power to the output from the input based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

29. An electronic device according to claim 28 wherein said detector remains unpowered until said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the first open position to the second position.

30. An electronic device according to claim 28 wherein said detector latches said power switch on based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

31. An electronic device according to claim 28 wherein said detector further generates a power on reset (POR) signal based upon said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

32. An electronic device according to claim 28 wherein said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch comprises a plurality of MEMS inertial sensing switches connected in parallel.

33. An electronic device according to claim 28 further comprising a substrate on which said power switch, said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch and said detector are formed.

34. An electronic device according to claim 33 further comprising circuitry on said substrate and connected to the output of said power switch.

35. An electronic device according to claim 33 further comprising at least one other substrate and circuitry thereon and being connected to the output of said power switch.

36. A method for selectively powering circuitry connected to an output of a power switch and based upon motion, the method comprising:

operating the power switch to supply power to the output based upon detecting at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from a first position to a second position based upon motion thereof.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the first position is normally open position and the second position is a closed position.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein detecting comprises using a detector that remains unpowered until said at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moves from the normally open position to the closed position.

39. A method according to claim 36 further comprising latching the power switch on based upon the at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.

40. A method according to claim 36 further comprising generating a power on reset (POR) signal based upon the at least one MEMS inertial sensing switch moving from the first position to the second position.