Transceiver Wake-Up via Voltage Interrupt Logic

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile devices with multiple processors, such as SoCs and baseband processors, there is a challenge in efficiently communicating between processors in reduced power states without additional hardware connections, which is crucial for energy conservation but requires tracking the power state of inactive processors, adding processing overhead.

Innovation Solution

A data transceiver block with interrupt logic that activates a reduced power mode for the transceiver and asserts an interrupt signal based on voltage level changes, allowing communication between processors without additional hardware connections, enabling the transceiver to deactivate the reduced power mode and receive serial data, and request resending of incomplete data by calculating and comparing checksums.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the transceiver operates in reduced power mode to conserve energy, then power consumption is reduced, but the transceiver cannot receive data while in this mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata reception capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the transmitting device send a wake-up indicator signal before actual data transmission. This allows the receiving transceiver to exit reduced power mode in advance, ensuring it is ready to receive data without missing any transmission, thus resolving the contradiction between power savings and data reception capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transceiver dynamically switches between reduced power mode and active mode based on the reception of the wake-up indicator signal. This dynamic state change allows the system to optimize power consumption during idle periods while ensuring full functionality when data transmission is required, balancing energy efficiency with productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If additional hardware connections are added to track power states for communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidhardware connections

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up indicator signal serves multiple functions: it acts as both a power state notification and a data transmission trigger. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate hardware connections to track power states, as the existing data communication channel is used for dual purposes, thereby maintaining reliability without increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmitting device automatically determines the receiving device's power state and sends the wake-up indicator signal accordingly. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate power state tracking hardware, as the system uses its own communication channel to convey power state information, reducing overall hardware complexity while maintaining communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the transceiver remains in active mode to ensure data reception, then data reception capability is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reception capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transceiver operates in periodic cycles, alternating between reduced power mode and active mode. During idle periods, it remains in reduced power mode to conserve energy, and only transitions to active mode when the wake-up indicator signal is received, ensuring data reception capability is maintained only when necessary, thus optimizing the balance between productivity and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If the wake-up indicator signal is sent before data transmission, then the receiving transceiver is ensured to be awake, but transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reception readinessVSAvoidtransmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system sends only a partial signal (the wake-up indicator) before full data transmission, rather than transmitting the entire data set immediately. This partial action ensures the receiving transceiver is awake and ready without requiring the transmission of complete data, thus minimizing the time loss while ensuring reliable data reception readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9549373B2Method for waking a data transceiver through data reception

Publication Date: 2017.01.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

A method for managing power in a system, in which the system may include a first device configured to transmit serial data and a second device, coupled to the first device. The second device may include a transceiver and interrupt logic, and may be configured to activate the interrupt logic and enable a reduced power mode for the transceiver. Power consumption of the transceiver operating in the reduced power mode may be less than power consumption of the transceiver in an operating mode. The second device may also be configured to assert an interrupt signal responsive to a change in a voltage level of an input of the second device and then de-activate the reduced power mode for the transceiver responsive to the assertion of the interrupt signal.