NFC Controller Bypass Power Management for Low-Latency Peripheral Supply

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional NFC controllers face challenges in power management, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and latency due to software-driven wake-up processes, and inability to benefit from a forced off state for peripheral power management.

Innovation Solution

A hardware-configured NFC controller with a power management unit that automatically activates a bypass power mode using an external power supply voltage, independent of the controller's operating mode, including voltage detection and current limiting to prevent degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the NFC controller uses software-driven power management to control peripheral power supply, then the controller can manage peripheral power consumption, but this causes unnecessary power consumption and latency due to wake-up processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsoftware startup process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management unit operates autonomously to manage peripheral power supply without requiring controller intervention. The PMU independently detects peripheral power requirements and controls power supply accordingly, eliminating the need for controller wake-up and software processing, thus reducing power consumption and latency while maintaining effective power management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates the power management function from the main NFC controller by implementing an independent power management unit. This segmentation allows the PMU to handle power control tasks autonomously, preventing the main controller from being woken up unnecessarily, thereby reducing the power consumption and latency associated with software-driven power management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If the NFC controller is forced into off state to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the controller cannot perform power management of peripherals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidperipheral power management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides power management responsibilities between the NFC controller and an independent power management unit. When the controller is in off state, the autonomous PMU continues to monitor peripheral power requirements and maintain power supply, ensuring peripheral power management reliability while allowing the main controller to remain in low-power state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The power management unit operates autonomously to manage peripheral power supply without requiring controller intervention. The PMU independently detects peripheral power requirements and controls power supply accordingly, eliminating the need for controller wake-up and software processing, thus reducing power consumption and latency while maintaining effective power management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the NFC controller wakes up to manage peripheral power supply, then peripheral power management is performed, but this introduces latency before devices are powered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperipheral power managementVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The power management unit continuously monitors peripheral power requirements and is prepared to activate power supply immediately when needed. This preliminary monitoring and readiness state eliminates the wake-up latency, as the PMU can instantly respond to power requests without requiring controller activation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power management unit operates autonomously to manage peripheral power supply without requiring controller intervention. The PMU independently detects peripheral power requirements and controls power supply accordingly, eliminating the need for controller wake-up and software processing, thus reducing power consumption and latency while maintaining effective power management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4361768A1Power management in a NFC near field communication controller

Publication Date: 2024.05.01 STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS

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AI summary

The Near Field Communication Controller (NFC_CTRLR) integrated circuit includes a power management unit (PMU) adapted to retransmit an external supply voltage (VCC_SIM1) from at least one power input node (VCC_IN1) to at least one power output node (VCC_OUT1) in bypass power supply (BPSS) mode. The PMU is hardware-configured to automatically activate bypass power supply (BPSS) mode if the external supply voltage (VCC_SIM1) is present at said at least one power input node (VCC_IN).