Main Chip Cold Boot Event Determination via Non-Volatile Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic systems face challenges in determining the reason for cold boot events without external microcontrollers and additional power supplies, leading to increased costs and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system comprising a main chip, non-volatile storage circuit, and detector circuit that reads clock times and logic values to determine the reason for cold boot events, eliminating the need for external microcontrollers and additional power supplies by utilizing the main chip to control operations and work with the detector circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If an external microcontroller and additional power supply are used to determine cold boot event reasons, then the determination capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold boot event determination capabilityVSAvoidexternal microcontroller and power supply components

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cold boot event determination function into the existing main chip by utilizing its internal resources (clock circuit, non-volatile storage circuit, and detector circuit). This integration eliminates the need for separate external microcontroller and power supply components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the determination capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main chip is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the central processing unit, stores time information in its non-volatile storage circuit, and executes the cold boot event determination logic using its detector circuit. This multi-functionality allows the single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If an external microcontroller and additional power supply are used to determine cold boot event reasons, then the determination capability is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold boot event determination capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption of external components

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the determination function into the main chip's existing circuits (clock circuit, non-volatile storage circuit, and detector circuit), the patent eliminates the need for separate external power supply components. This reduces the overall power consumption while maintaining the ability to detect and determine cold boot event reasons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main chip utilizes its own internal resources (clock circuit for time tracking, non-volatile storage circuit for data retention, and detector circuit for event detection) to perform the determination function. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional external power supply components, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the main chip reads time from non-volatile storage circuit and processes cold boot determination, then the cost is reduced, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost reduction by eliminating external componentsVSAvoidtime for time reading and determination processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The non-volatile storage circuit pre-stores time information and status data before cold boot events occur. This preliminary storage of critical information allows the main chip to quickly retrieve and process data during cold boot determination, reducing the time required for analysis while maintaining cost-effectiveness through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex external mechanical/electronic systems (external microcontroller and power supply) with software-based processing within the main chip. The determination logic is implemented through software algorithms that process data from the integrated circuits, reducing hardware complexity and cost while managing processing time through efficient software implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12253895B2Electronic system and determination method capable of determining reason of cold boot event

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 REALTEK SEMICON CORP

AI summary

An electronic system includes a main chip, a non-volatile storage circuit, and a detector circuit. The main chip is configured to read first time of a clock circuit. The non-volatile storage circuit is coupled to the main chip. The main chip stores the first time into the non-volatile storage circuit. The detector circuit includes a first output terminal. The first output terminal is coupled to the main chip. When a cold boot event occurs, the main chip reads the first time from the non-volatile storage circuit, and determines a reason of the cold boot event according to the first time, a second time of the clock circuit, and a logic value at the first output terminal.