SoC Standby Power Management via Segmented Wake-Up Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrically powered devices in standby mode continue to consume significant energy due to the need for a main power supply, even when inactive, which contributes to daily energy consumption in households.
Innovation Solution
An integrated System on Chip (SoC) with a communication interface that can energize or de-energize functional blocks individually, using a power management function to control which components are active based on signal detection, and switching to a low power state or main power supply as needed, allowing only the minimum necessary components to receive and detect signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the main power supply is used to keep the device in standby mode, then the device can quickly respond to wake-up events, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two power modes: a low-power standby mode using a power management IC that can detect wake-up events, and a full-power active mode using the main power supply. This segmentation allows the device to minimize energy consumption during standby while maintaining the capability to quickly respond to wake-up events by switching to the main power supply when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply configuration is made dynamic by implementing automatic switching between the power management IC and the main power supply based on wake-up event detection. The system transitions from a static always-on power configuration to a dynamic configuration where power is supplied only when needed, thereby reducing standby energy consumption while maintaining fast response capability.
2Productivity
If all functional blocks are kept energized for immediate operation, then the device can perform any function instantly, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Functional blocks are segmented into essential wake-up detection functions that remain powered by the power management IC and non-essential functions that are powered only when needed. This allows the device to maintain productivity for essential operations while minimizing power consumption by de-energizing non-essential functional blocks during standby.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management IC performs preliminary wake-up event detection and signal processing in advance, allowing the main power supply to be activated only when actually needed. This preliminary action ensures that the device can transition quickly from standby to full operation without keeping all functional blocks continuously energized.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment is an integrated System on Chip (SoC) including a communication interface configured to implement a communication protocol including functional blocks that are energized or de-energized individually so that a minimum power consumption is used to receive and detect a signal, and a receiver identification (ID) detection function configured to determine whether the signal is intended for the device in which the SoC resides. The SoC further includes a power management function configured to control which functions in the SoC and/or device in which the SoC resides are energized or de-energized depending on the results of the receiver ID detection function, and a power source capable of energizing a minimum number of the functional blocks required to receive and detect a signal, wherein the power source can be used in a low power state and switched over to a main power supply when the SoC is energized.