Hardware Polling Peripheral for Low-Power I/O State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered devices face challenges in minimizing power consumption due to inefficient polling methods that require continuous checking of I/O pins, which can be energy-intensive and difficult for complex processors, while interrupts cause irregular wake-up behavior and require dedicated I/O pins.
Innovation Solution
A hardware polling peripheral that operates independently of the processor to periodically poll I/O pins, using programmable registers, polling logic, and transistors to detect state changes, allowing the processor to remain in a low-power state and send interrupts only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional polling is used to continuously check I/O pins, then the processor can detect state changes, but power consumption increases due to continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the polling function into two separate components: a hardware polling peripheral that performs continuous monitoring, and a processor that handles high-level processing. This segmentation allows the processor to enter low-power states while the dedicated hardware peripheral continues polling operations, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable state change detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware polling peripheral acts as an intermediary between the I/O pins and the processor. It monitors state changes on I/O pins and generates interrupt signals only when changes are detected, freeing the processor from continuous polling operations and enabling it to conserve energy during idle periods.
2Reliability
If the processor continuously polls I/O pins, then state changes are detected reliably, but the processor cannot enter low-power states
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the continuous monitoring function from the processor into a dedicated hardware polling peripheral, the system enables the processor to enter and remain in low-power states for extended periods while the peripheral maintains continuous surveillance of I/O pins for state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware polling peripheral autonomously performs polling operations and self-manages interrupt generation without requiring processor intervention. This self-service capability allows the processor to remain in low-power states while the peripheral independently handles monitoring tasks.
3Use of energy by moving object
If interrupts are used instead of polling, then power consumption is reduced, but irregular wake-up behavior occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware polling peripheral serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between continuous polling and interrupt-based approaches. It continuously monitors I/O pins like traditional polling but generates standardized interrupt signals only when state changes are detected, eliminating irregular wake-up behavior while maintaining power efficiency.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a hardware polling peripheral is introduced, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware polling peripheral is designed as a multi-functional component that can be configured to monitor multiple I/O pins and support various polling modes. This universal design consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components, reducing overall system complexity while achieving power savings.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus are described for reducing power consumption of a battery-powered electronic device. A hardware polling peripheral operates in conjunction with a CPU within the battery-powered electronic device. When the CPU enters a quiescent state in order to save power, the hardware polling peripheral begins the polling cycle that polls one or more I/O pins of the hardware polling peripheral to detect a change in state. Polling is controlled by hardware registers and digital logic circuits without the use of firmware. When the hardware polling peripheral determines that an I/O pin has changed state, it wakes the CPU from the quiescent state via an interrupt.