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US 10,296,077 B2Granted
Configuring power domains of a microcontroller system
AssigneeAtmel Corporation
InventorsSebastien Jouin, Patrice Menard, Thierry Gourbilleau
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Abstract
A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain based on whether the microcontroller system has asserted a power trigger for any module in the power domain or if any module in the power domain has asserted a power keeper.
Claims19
A microcontroller system comprising:
- a clock controller operable to provide a clock signal to a plurality of modules;
- an event controller comprising a hardware unit in a first power domain and operable to be powered to route trigger events between the plurality of modules and to route a first trigger event asserted by a first module of the plurality of modules to a second module of the plurality of modules and a second trigger event asserted by a third module of the plurality of modules to a fourth module of the plurality of modules, the fourth module being different from the second module;
- and
- a power manager comprising a digital circuit in an active power domain external to the event controller and the modules, the power manager being operable to change a power configuration of a power domain from a first power mode to a second power mode at least partially based on whether the event controller is routing a trigger event to any module of the power domain, one of the first and second power modes being an active power mode and the other of the first and second power modes being a retention power mode, the active power domain being different from the first power domain and remaining in an active power mode,
- wherein the event controller, the power manager, and the modules are integrated in a microcontroller, and
- wherein the power manager is operable to change the power configuration of the power domain from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to receiving an event indication from the event controller that the trigger event has been acknowledged and receiving a clock indication from the clock controller that the power domain has relinquished an asserted clock request from any module of the power domain.
3 more elements
A microcontroller system comprising:
- a plurality of modules organized into a plurality of power domains and a power manager coupled to the modules and operable to:
- determine that a first power domain is to be in a first power mode based on at least one of:
- a trigger asserted by a first module of the plurality of modules to a second module in the first power domain to perform a task, or an indication that the first power domain is to be maintained in the first power mode;
- and
- determine that a second power domain is to be in a second power mode based on a lack of a trigger for any module in the second power domain and a lack of an indication that the second power domain is to be kept in the first power mode, the second power mode being associated with a degree of power usage that is less than a degree of power usage associated with the first power mode,
- wherein a third module of the plurality of modules in a third power domain is operable to:
- while the third power domain is in the second power mode, receive a first trigger to perform a first task;
- after the power manager puts the third power domain into the first power mode, assert a clock request to the power manager to keep the third power domain in the first power mode;
- acknowledge the first trigger;
- and
- perform the first task, and
- wherein the power manage is operable to change a power configuration of a power domain from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to receiving an event indication from an event controller that a trigger event asserted on a module of the power domain has been acknowledged and receiving a clock indication from a clock controller that the power domain has relinquished an asserted clock request from any module of the power domain.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining, by a power manager of a microcontroller system including a plurality of modules organized into a plurality of power domains, that a first power domain is to be in a first power mode based on at least one of:
- a trigger asserted by a first module of the plurality of modules to a second module in the first power domain to perform a task, or an indication that the first power domain is to be maintained in the first power mode;
- determining, by the power manager, that a second power domain is to be in a second power mode based on a lack of a trigger for any module in the second power domain and a lack of an indication that the second power domain is to be kept in the first power mode, the second power mode being associated with a degree of power usage that is less than a degree of power usage associated with the first power mode;
- receiving, by a third module of the plurality of modules in a third power domain, a first trigger to perform a first task, while the third power domain is in the second power mode;
- after the power manager puts the third power domain into the first power mode, asserting, by the third module, a clock request to the power manager to keep the third power domain in the first power mode;
- acknowledging, by the third module, the first trigger;
- and performing, by the third module, the first task;
- and
- changing, by the power manager, a power configuration of a power domain from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to receiving an event indication from an event controller that a trigger event asserted on a module of the power domain has been acknowledged and receiving a clock indication from a clock controller that the power domain has relinquished an asserted clock request from any module of the power domain.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.