Power consumption control method for microcontroller unit and microcontroller unit system
A monitoring system in microcontrollers adjusts power modes based on signal output states to balance power consumption and performance, addressing the challenge of high power usage in IoT devices.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410208309.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-01-15
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-15
AI Technical Summary
How to reduce the power consumption of the microcontroller unit to extend service life and improve energy efficiency while maintaining the signal processing capability of the microcontroller unit.
The monitoring system detects the signal output status of the analog component and controls the analog component to switch between low-power mode and non-low-power mode according to the state changes, including detection and judgment of current state, voltage state and bandwidth state, to achieve dynamic adjustment of power consumption.
It effectively reduces the power consumption of the microcontroller unit, while maintaining effective signal processing capabilities, and extends the service life of the equipment.
Smart Images
Figure CN120315569A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a power consumption control technology, and particularly to a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and a microcontroller unit system applying the same. Background Art
[0002] Due to the increasingly wide application of the Internet of Things (IoT), various electronic devices including sensors and embedded devices have emerged one after another. In addition to being lightweight, compact, and having high performance, in order to extend the service life, the electronic devices and the microcontroller units (MCUs) they contain must be as power-saving as possible.
[0003] The sensing operation and data of sensor data are usually processed by an analog signal processing unit (also known as analog intellectual property (IP), hereinafter simply referred to as an analog component) in the microcontroller unit. In order to achieve high-performance data analysis, the analog component will operate in a high-speed state, resulting in a more power-consuming problem. However, if the analog component operates in a low-power state, the signal processing unit characteristics / capabilities of the analog component will be reduced, thereby affecting the signal and analysis.
[0004] Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of the microcontroller unit and have effective signal processing capabilities is an important issue worthy of research. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application proposes a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a microcontroller unit system applying the same to reduce power consumption.
[0006] An embodiment of the present application provides a microcontroller unit system, including: at least one analog component; and a monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one analog component, for: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component; determining whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes; when it is determined that a signal output state of an analog component in the at least one analog component changes, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low-power mode; and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, controlling the analog component to operate in a low-power mode, where the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.
[0007] Optionally, the number of the at least one analog component is multiple, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog components and sequentially determines whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components change.
[0008] Optionally, the monitoring system includes a hardware counter or a timer for generating a periodic signal, and the monitoring system detects the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component according to the periodic signal and determines whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes.
[0009] Optionally, the monitoring system includes at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a register, and the monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog component according to a flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register and determines whether the signal output state of the analog component changes.
[0010] Optionally, the analog component is one of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an analog comparator (ACMP), and an operational amplifier (OPA).
[0011] An embodiment of the present application further provides a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit. The microcontroller unit includes at least one analog component. The power consumption control method includes: detecting, by a monitoring system, at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component; determining, by the monitoring system, whether a non-at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes; when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component in the at least one analog component changes, controlling, by the monitoring system, the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption mode; and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, controlling, by the monitoring system, the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode, where the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.
[0012] Based on the above, the power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and the microcontroller unit system applying the same of the present application can achieve reducing the power consumption of the microcontroller unit and having effective signal processing capabilities at the same time. Description of the Drawings
[0013] The accompanying drawings provided are used to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains to further understand the present invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification of the present invention. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are used together with the specification of the present invention to explain the principles of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 1 It is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit (MCU) system according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0015] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit system according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0016] Figure 3 It is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present application; and
[0017] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit according to an embodiment of the present application.
[0018]
Symbol Description
[0019] 100... Microcontroller unit system; 110... Analog component; 120... Monitoring system; 200... Microcontroller unit system; 210, 212, 214... Analog components; 220... Monitoring system; 300... Monitoring system; 310... Timer; 320... Detector; S402, S404, S406, S408, S410, S412, S414, S416, S418, S420, S422, S424, S426, S428, S430, S432, S434... Steps. Detailed Embodiments
[0020] The present application proposes a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a microcontroller unit system applying the same to solve the problems mentioned in the background art. To make the features and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description contains specific information related to the exemplary embodiments in the present application. The accompanying drawings and their detailed descriptions in the present application are only exemplary embodiments. However, the present application is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will think of other variations and embodiments of the present application. Unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding components in the drawings may be indicated by the same or corresponding reference numerals. In addition, the drawings and illustrations in the present application are generally not drawn to scale and are not intended to correspond to the actual relative sizes.
[0021] Figure 1A block diagram of a microcontroller unit system according to an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 1 shown, the microcontroller unit system 100 includes an analog component 110 and a monitoring system 120. The analog component 110 can support a low-power mode (such as a power-saving mode) and a non-low-power mode (such as a normal mode or a high-power mode). The monitoring system 120 is electrically connected to the analog component 110.
[0022] The monitoring system 120 is used to detect (such as read, obtain) the signal output state of the analog component 110. The monitoring system 120 is used to determine whether the signal output state of the analog component 110 changes. The signal output state can include at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state (such as changing from 8M to 2M), but the present application is not limited thereto. When it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component 110 changes, the monitoring system 120 is used to control the analog component to operate in a non-low-power mode (such as a normal mode or a high-power mode); and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, the monitoring system 120 is used to control the analog component to operate in a low-power mode (such as a power-saving mode).
[0023] That is to say, the monitoring system 120 can effectively control the operating state of the analog component 110 to reduce power consumption.
[0024] For example, when the analog component originally operates in the non-low-power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to maintain the non-low-power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the non-low-power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to switch from the non-low-power mode to the low-power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low-power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to switch from the low-power mode to the non-low-power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low-power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to maintain the low-power mode.
[0025] Figure 2 A block diagram of a microcontroller unit system according to an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 2 shown, the microcontroller unit system 200 includes a plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 and a monitoring system 220. Each of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 can support a low-power mode (such as a power-saving mode) and a non-low-power mode (such as a normal mode or a high-power mode). The monitoring system 220 is electrically connected to the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214.
[0026] The monitoring system 220 is used to detect (e.g., read, obtain) the signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 (e.g., not simultaneously / sequentially). The monitoring system 220 is used to determine whether the signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 change (e.g., not simultaneously / sequentially). Specifically, the monitoring system 220 is used to detect the signal output state of each of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214. The signal output state may include at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state (e.g., changing from 8M to 2M), but the present application is not limited thereto. When it is determined that the signal output state of an analog component (e.g., analog component 214) among the multiple analog components changes, the monitoring system 220 is used to control the analog component (e.g., analog component 214) to operate in a non-low power consumption mode (e.g., normal mode or high power consumption mode); and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, the monitoring system 220 is used to control the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode (e.g., power saving mode).
[0027] That is to say, the monitoring system 220 can effectively control the individual operating states of each of the multiple analog components 210.
[0028] For example, when the analog component originally operates in the non-low power consumption mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to maintain in the non-low power consumption mode. When the analog component originally operates in the non-low power consumption mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to switch from the non-low power consumption mode to the low power consumption mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power consumption mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to switch from the low power consumption mode to the non-low power consumption mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power consumption mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to maintain in the low power consumption mode.
[0029] In some embodiments, according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214, the monitoring system 220 may detect the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 sequentially / time-divisionally (e.g., polling). In some embodiments, the priority of an analog component may depend on the type of the analog component (e.g., an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or an analog comparator (ACMP), etc.). For example, when the priority of the analog comparator is higher than that of the analog-to-digital converter, the monitoring system 220 may detect the analog comparator first and then the analog-to-digital converter. In some embodiments, an analog component with a more frequent change in the signal output state may have (e.g., be configured with) a higher priority, and an analog component with a less frequent change in the signal output state may have (e.g., be configured with) a lower priority.
[0030] Figure 3 FIG. is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present application. The monitoring system 300 includes a (firmware) timer (or a hardware counter) 310. The timer 310 can be used to generate a periodic signal (e.g., an indication). The monitoring system 300 can be, for example, the monitoring system 120 or the monitoring system 220. For example, the monitoring system (e.g., the monitoring system 120) can periodically detect the signal output state of the analog component 110 according to the periodic signal and determine whether the signal output state of the analog component 110 has changed. The monitoring system (e.g., the monitoring system 220) can periodically and sequentially (e.g., polling) detect the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 and determine whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 have changed.
[0031] Please refer to Figure 3 , the monitoring system 300 includes a detector (or a detection unit) 320. The detector 320 can include at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a (software) register. The monitoring system 300 can detect the signal output state of the analog component and determine whether the signal output state of the analog component has changed according to the flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register.
[0032] In some embodiments, the analog component may be one of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator, and an operational amplifier (OPA), but the present application is not limited thereto.
[0033] In some embodiments, when the change (amplitude) of the signal output state is not less than a specific threshold or a specific ratio, the monitoring system (such as monitoring system 120 or monitoring system 220) may determine that the signal output state of the analog component has changed. When the change of the signal output state is less than the specific threshold or the specific ratio, the monitoring system may determine that the signal output state of the analog component has not changed.
[0034] In some embodiments, the low-power mode may mean reducing the clock frequency or stopping generating the clock signal, deactivating the core arithmetic unit (such as the central processing unit (CPU)), etc., but the present application is not limited thereto.
[0035] It should be noted that when the analog component is controlled to change the operation mode, the analog component may maintain providing / outputting the same supply voltage.
[0036] According to the above embodiments, the following power consumption control method for the microcontroller unit can be obtained (for example, summarized). Figure 4 It is a schematic flowchart of the power consumption control method for the microcontroller unit according to an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4 shown, this method includes the following steps:
[0037] In step S402, the analog component ( Figure 4 abbreviated as IP in
[0038] is turned on.
[0039] In step S404, it is determined whether the IP has turned on the automatic power-saving mode. When it is determined that the IP has not turned on the automatic power-saving mode / low-power mode, step S406 is executed. When it is determined that the IP has turned on the automatic power-saving mode, step S408 is executed.
[0040] In step S406, the IP operates in a non-low-power mode (hereinafter abbreviated as the general mode).
[0041] In step S410, the polling detection mode is started through the monitoring system to detect the IP (such as a single analog component 110).
[0042] In step S412, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output state of the IP has changed. When it is determined that the signal output state of the IP has not changed, step S414 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output state of the IP has changed, step S416 is executed. After completing / ending the detection and control of the IP, step S412 is executed again.
[0043] In step S414, the monitoring system controls the IP to operate in the low-power mode.
[0044] In step S416, the monitoring system controls the IP to operate in the normal mode. After completing / ending the detection and control of the IP, step S412 is executed again.
[0045] In step S418, the monitoring system starts the time-sharing polling detection mode to detect IP_1 (such as analog component 210) to IP_N (such as analog component 214) in a time-sharing manner.
[0046] In step S420, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output state of IP_1 has changed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_1 has not changed, step S422 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_1 has changed, step S424 is executed.
[0047] In step S422, the monitoring system controls IP_1 to operate in the low-power mode.
[0048] In step S424, the monitoring system controls IP_1 to operate in the normal mode.
[0049] In step S426, the polling detection of IP_1 is completed / ended. Then, the monitoring system sequentially detects IP_2 (such as analog component 212) to IP_N (such as analog component 214).
[0050] In step S428, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output state of IP_N has changed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_N has not changed, step S430 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_N has changed, step S432 is executed.
[0051] In step S430, the monitoring system controls IP_N to operate in the low-power mode.
[0052] In step S432, the monitoring system controls IP_N to operate in the normal mode.
[0053] In step S434, the polling detection of IP_N is completed / ended, and step S418 is executed again.
[0054] In summary, the power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and the microcontroller unit system applying the same according to the present application can achieve reducing the power consumption of the microcontroller unit and have effective signal processing capabilities at the same time.
[0055] Although the present application has been disclosed by the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the art can still make various changes and modifications to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, which still fall within the technical scope protected by the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to what is defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A microcontroller unit system, characterized in that, Comprising: At least one analog component; and A monitoring system, electrically connected to the at least one analog component, for: Detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component; Judging whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes; When it is judged that the signal output state of an analog component in the at least one analog component changes, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption mode; and When it is judged that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, controlling the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.
2. The microcontroller unit system according to claim 1, wherein The number of the at least one analog component is multiple, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog components and sequentially judges whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components change.
3. The microcontroller unit system according to claim 1, characterized in that The monitoring system includes a hardware counter or a timer for generating a periodic signal, and the monitoring system detects the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component according to the periodic signal and judges whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes.
4. The microcontroller unit system according to claim 1, wherein The monitoring system includes at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a register, and the monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog component according to a flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register and judges whether the signal output state of the analog component changes.
5. The microcontroller unit system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The analog component is one of a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator, and an operational amplifier.
6. A power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit, characterized in that, The microcontroller unit includes at least one analog component, and the power consumption control method includes: Detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component through a monitoring system; Judging whether the non-at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes through the monitoring system; When it is judged that the signal output state of an analog component in the at least one analog component changes, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption mode through the monitoring system; and When it is judged that the signal output state of the analog component does not change, controlling the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode through the monitoring system, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.
7. The power consumption control method according to claim 6, wherein The number of the at least one analog component is multiple, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog components and sequentially judges whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components change.
8. The power consumption control method according to claim 6, characterized in that Detecting the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component and judging whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes through the monitoring system according to a periodic signal, wherein the periodic signal is generated by a hardware counter or a timer.
9. The power consumption control method according to claim 6, wherein The monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog component based on a flag of a hardware sensing circuit or a register, and determines whether the signal output state of the analog component changes.
10. The power consumption control method according to claim 6, wherein The analog component is one of a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator, and an operational amplifier.