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

• US 9,063,731 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• 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, Kim, Yongyi, Park, Kiyeon
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US13/595,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20140059365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 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, the method comprising:

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

sending by the interrupt sensor an interrupt 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 interrupt signal and evaluate data received from the interrupt sensor;

wherein when the sub-processor determines that the data received from the interrupt 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, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises an ambient environment of the electronic device, and wherein the interrupt sensor comprises an infrared (IR) gesture sensor that senses a hand wave gesture as a change in the ambient environment and returns the electronic device to an active status.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt sensor operates at an ultra-low power level.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sub-processor comprises a sensing processor that operates at a low power level.

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

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises motion sensing.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, the predetermined condition being monitored comprises the electronic device being shaken or waved.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein after motion is detected and the main processor is awakened, unlocking or operating the electronic device after determining receipt of a voice command.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-processor comprises a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) and operates at a low power level that is less than a higher power level at which the main processor operates.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-processor comprises a sensing processor, and both the main processor and the sensing processor are configured to go into a sleep mode until the interrupt sensor senses a change in the ambient environment and wakes the sensing processor, and the sensing processor wakes up the main processor when the sensing processor determines that the data received from the interrupt sensor has reached a predetermined threshold value or is within a predetermined range of validity.

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

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises an ambient environment of the electronic device, and wherein the interrupt sensor comprises a motion sensor that senses a motion of the electronic device as a change in the ambient environment.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein an additional sensor comprising a polling sensor is in communication with the sub-processor to determine whether to wake the main processor when sensing data of the polling sensor is within a valid range.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the polling sensor operates only when the sub-processor is in the operating mode after being awakened by the interrupt sensor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the polling sensor comprises an accelerometer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable communication terminal configured for wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-processor is internalized in the main processor.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a gesture proximity to be sensed by the IR gesture sensor is less than 15 cm.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises sensing a change in position of a stylus arranged partially within a holder or on a surface of the electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sub-processor utilizes ⅕

th or less than an operating power of the main processor.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main processor comprises an application processor.

21. 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).

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

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;

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

wherein said interrupt sensor sends an interrupt signal to said 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 said interrupt 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 interrupt sensor is at a predetermined threshold value or within a predetermined range of validity, and wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises an ambient environment of the apparatus, and wherein the interrupt sensor comprises an infrared (IR) gesture sensor that senses a wave of a user hand as a change in the ambient environment to return the apparatus to an active status.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the sub-processor operates at a low power level, and the interrupt sensor operates at an ultra-low power level.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the main processor comprises an application processor coupled to the sub-processor via the communication interface that operates at a power level that is higher than a power level of the sub-processor,

wherein the sub-processor comprises a micro control unit (MCU) and operates at one of an ultra-low power level or a low power level that is less than a power level at which the application processor operates.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the application processor includes a sleep mode and an operating mode, and wherein both the application processor and the sub-processor are configured to go into a sleep mode until the interrupt sensor senses a change in the ambient environment and wakes the sub-processor.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined condition comprises an ambient environment of the apparatus, and the interrupt sensors monitors the ambient environment one of periodically and continuously.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the interrupt 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 interrupt sensor sends an interrupt to the sub-processor upon detection of the change in the predetermined condition being monitored.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined condition being monitored comprises an ambient environment of the apparatus, and wherein the interrupt sensor additionally includes a motion sensor that senses a motion as a change in the ambient environment.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the motion sensed as the predetermined condition comprises the apparatus being shaken or waved.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein after the motion is sensed as the predetermined condition, the main processor determines whether a voice input is received and in response unlocks or renders the apparatus into a fully operative state.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an additional sensor in communication with the sub-processor, wherein the sub-processor compares an output of the interrupt sensor with an output of the additional sensor to determine whether to wake the main processor via the communication interface between the sensing processor and the main processor.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the additional sensor comprises a polling sensor that operates only when the sub-processor is in the operating mode and not when the sub-processor is in the sleep mode.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the polling sensor comprises an accelerometer.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, 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

wherein the interrupt sensor sends the interrupt signal to the main processor upon detecting a change in the ambient environment of the portable communication terminal.

35. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sub-processor is internalized in the main processor.

36. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a gesture proximity to be sensed by the IR gesture sensor is less than 15 cm.

37. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the predetermined condition comprises sensing a change in position of a stylus arranged partially within a holder or on a surface of the apparatus.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the main processor comprises an application processor.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sub-processor comprises one of a sensing processor, a sensor hub, and a Micro Controller Unit (MCU).