Mobile Device Partial Reset Logic Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile wireless communications devices experience lengthy reboot times during hard resets, which inconvenience users, and partial resets can cause undesirable changes in the display, such as flickering or blanking, due to the resetting of the graphics processing unit (GPU).
Innovation Solution
A mobile wireless communications device with a power management circuit that maintains power to the GPU during a partial reset of the processor, using a logic circuit with an OR gate to prevent the GPU from resetting by generating a reset control signal that keeps the display unchanged, allowing the processor to be reset without affecting the GPU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard reset operation is performed to resolve software errors, then the system reliability is improved, but the reboot time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The reset operation is segmented into selective resets of individual ICs or subsystems rather than resetting the entire system. The controller identifies and resets only the specific IC causing the software error, while other ICs remain operational. This segmentation allows the system to recover from errors without requiring a full system reboot, significantly reducing reboot time while maintaining system reliability.
2Productivity
If a partial reset is performed on the processor to reduce reboot time, then the productivity is improved, but the display may flicker or blank due to GPU resetting
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of GPU resetting is extracted and isolated from the processor reset operation. When the processor needs to be reset, the controller specifically excludes the GPU from the reset cycle by maintaining its power supply and reset state. This allows the processor to be reset quickly without causing display flickering or blanking, improving productivity while eliminating the harmful visual effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Different reset characteristics are applied to different components based on their specific requirements. The processor receives a reset signal to clear its error state, while the GPU maintains its operational state to prevent display issues. This localized quality approach ensures each component is treated according to its specific needs, allowing fast resets without display disruption.
3Reliability
If the power management circuit cycles power to all ICs for a full reset, then the reliability is improved, but the duration of action increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying excessive action by resetting all ICs in the system, the controller applies partial action by resetting only the specific IC or subsystem that caused the error. The power management circuit cycles power selectively to identified problematic components while leaving other ICs operational. This partial action approach maintains system reliability by addressing the root cause without unnecessarily disrupting other functioning components, thereby reducing the overall reset duration.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile wireless communications device may include a display, a graphics processing unit (GPU) being resettable and causing a change in the display when reset, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the GPU and the wireless transceiver for wireless communications. The processor may be resettable along with the GPU, and the processor also may be partially resettable without resetting the GPU to avoid a change in the display.