Method, electronic device system and computer-readable medium for managing transitions between a plurality of power states of an electronic device based on sensor data indicative of a change in an angle between a plane of base portion of the electronic device and plane of a lid portion of the electronic device
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsStefano Paolo Rivolta, Marco Bianco, Roberto Mura, Federico Rizzardini, Lorenzo Bracco
An electronic device has sensing circuitry and control circuitry. The control circuitry generates, based on generated sensor data, information indicative of movement of the electronic device. The control circuitry generates control signals to control operation of the electronic device in a plurality of power states, including a working-power state, an intermediate-power state and a low-power state, based on the information indicative of movement.
Drawings
Claims26
A method, comprising:
generating, based on sensor data, information indicative of movement of an electronic device, the information including information indicative of a change of inclination of the electronic device with respect to one or more planes orthogonal to a gravity vector acting on the electronic device, information indicative of a position of the electronic device on one or more of the one or more planes orthogonal to the gravity vector, and information indicative of a type of user-activity associated with the electronic device;
and
managing transitions of the electronic device between a plurality of different power states, the plurality of different power states including a working-power state, an intermediate-power state and a low-power state, wherein the managing transitions includes:
managing transitions to the low-power state based on one or more of the information indicative of an inclination change or the information indicative of a type of user-activity;
managing transitions from the low-power state to the intermediate-power state based on the information indicative of a position of the electronic device;
and
managing transitions from the intermediate-power state to the working-power state based on an indication of user interaction with the electronic device, wherein
the electronic device has a base portion and a lid portion, and the generating the information indicative of a change in inclination comprises:
detecting a change in an angle between a plane of the base portion and a plane of the lid portion;
in response to the detecting of the change in the angle, comparing the angle to a threshold angle;
and
generating the information indicative of the change in inclination based on the comparison.
9 more elements
An electronic device, comprising:
sensing circuitry, which, in operation, generates sensor data;
and
control circuitry coupled to the sensing circuitry, wherein the control circuitry, in operation:
generates, based on generated sensor data, information indicative of movement of the electronic device, the information including information indicative of a change of inclination of the electronic device with respect to one or more planes orthogonal to a gravity vector acting on the electronic device, information indicative of a position of the electronic device on one or more of the one or more planes orthogonal to the gravity vector, and information indicative of a type of user-activity associated with the electronic device;
and
generates control signals to control operation of the electronic device in a plurality of different power states, the plurality of different power states including a working-power state, an intermediate-power state and a low-power state, wherein the generating control signals includes:
generating control signals to cause operation in the low-power state based on one or more of the information indicative of an inclination change or the information indicative of a type of user-activity;
generating control signals to cause a transition from operation in the low-power state to operation in the intermediate-power state based on the information indicative of a position of the electronic device;
and
generating control signals to cause a transition from operation in the intermediate-power state to operation in the working-power state based on an indication of user interaction with the electronic device, wherein
the electronic device has a base portion and a lid portion;
and
the generating the information indicative of a change in inclination comprises:
detecting a change in an angle between a plane of the base portion and a plane of the lid portion;
in response to the detecting of the change in the angle, comparing the angle to a threshold angle;
and
generating the information indicative of the change in inclination based on the comparison.
14 more elements
A system, comprising:
an application processor;
sensing circuitry, which, in operation, generates sensor data;
and
control circuitry coupled to the sensing circuitry and to the application processor, wherein the control circuitry, in operation:
generates, based on generated sensor data, information indicative of movement of the system, the information including information indicative of a change of inclination of the system with respect to one or more planes orthogonal to a gravity vector acting on the system, information indicative of a position of the system on one or more of the one or more planes orthogonal to the gravity vector, and information indicative of a type of user-activity associated with the system;
and
generates control signals to control operation of the system in a plurality of different power states, the plurality of different power states including a working-power state, an intermediate-power state and a low-power state, wherein the generating control signals includes:
generating control signals to cause operation in the low-power state based on one or more of the information indicative of an inclination change or the information indicative of a type of user-activity;
generating control signals to cause a transition from operation in the low-power state to operation in the intermediate-power state based on the information indicative of a position of the system;
and
generating control signals to cause a transition from operation in the intermediate-power state to operation in the working-power state based on an indication of user interaction with the system, wherein,
the system has a base portion and a lid portion;
and
the control circuitry, in operation:
detects a relative orientation of the base portion with respect to the lid portion;
compares the relative orientation with a threshold relative orientation;
and
generates the control signals based on the comparing.
15 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having contents which configure an electronic device to perform a method, the method comprising:
generating, based on sensor data, information indicative of movement of the electronic device, the information including information indicative of a change of inclination of the electronic device with respect to one or more planes orthogonal to a gravity vector acting on the electronic device, information indicative of a position of the electronic device on one or more of the one or more planes orthogonal to the gravity vector, and information indicative of a type of user-activity associated with the electronic device;
and
managing transitions of the electronic device between a plurality of different power states, the plurality of different power states including a working-power state, an intermediate-power state and a low-power state, wherein the managing transitions includes:
managing transitions to the low-power state based on one or more of the information indicative of an inclination change or the information indicative of a type of user-activity;
managing transitions from the low-power state to the intermediate power state based on the information indicative of a position of the electronic device;
and
managing transitions from the intermediate-power state to the working-power state based on an indication of user interaction with the electronic device, wherein:
the electronic device comprises a base portion and a lid portion;
and
the method comprises:
detecting a relative orientation of the base portion with respect to the lid portion;
comparing the relative orientation with a threshold relative orientation;
and
generating the control signals based on the comparing.
14 Feb 2041Estimated · howhide20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 10 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.
About 14 years 4 months of term left · ends 14 Feb 2041 (estimated)
Priority, Italy17 Feb 2020
Filed4 Feb 2021
Granted7 Mar 2023
Today12 Oct 2026
Term ends14 Feb 2041
Priority, Italy17 Feb 2020
Granted7 Mar 2023
Term ends14 Feb 2041
Priority claimedIT 102020000003146
Application filedUS 17/168,110
Assigned to Stmicroelectronics S.R.L.assignment of assignor's interest
PublishedUS 2021/0255686 A1
GrantedUS 11,599,178 B2
TodayWithin its term
Term endsEstimated, includes 10 days of adjustment
Description14,051 words
Summary2,812 words
#The present disclosure relates to a method for managing power states transitions of an electronic device, to a system for managing power states transitions of an electronic device, and to the electronic device including the system for managing power states transitions.
#Operating systems provide a comprehensive and system-wide set of power management features. This enables systems to extend battery life and save energy, reduce heat and noise. Power efficiency is particularly of interest on portable computers. Reducing system power consumption translates directly to lower energy costs and longer battery life.
#Typically, operating systems support multiple power states, which are intermediate states between a “turned-off” state (the system is completely off and consumes no power) and a “full on” state (during which the system is fully usable). Common intermediate states are usually referred to as “sleep” (a low-power idle state) and “hibernate” (the system appears to be off, power consumption is reduced to the lowest level, and contents of volatile memory is saved to a hibernation file to preserve system state). From sleep and hibernate states, the power management software usually makes computers (almost) instantly accessible to user at the touch of a button or key.
Brief description of the drawings8 figures
#For a better understanding of the present disclosure, embodiments thereof will now be described purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
#FIG. 1 shows an electronic device, in particular a notebook;
#FIG. 2 shows schematically modules or circuits used to recognise respective events or conditions or activities to which the device of FIG. 1 is subjected during use;
Detailed description11,033 words
#FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device 10 in a triaxial reference system X, Y, Z in which the vector g represents the gravitational-acceleration vector acting parallel to the axis Z. The computing device 10 is depicted as a notebook in an exemplary embodiment, which is used to describe the present disclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure to the specific structure shown.
#The computing device 10, generally of a portable type, as illustrated includes a lid portion 12 and a base portion 14, mechanically coupled together by means of a hinge 15 that allows the lid portion 12 to rotate with respect to the base portion 14, thus forming a rotational constraint about an axis R parallel to the axis X. The computing device 10 is shown in an operating condition where the lid is open. The base portion 14 comprises a data-input device 16 (or a number data-input of devices) (e.g., a keyboard and/or a trackpad), which extend over a surface 14a of the base portion 14. The lid portion 12 comprises a display region 18 (e.g., a screen or monitor) that extends over a surface 12a of the lid portion 12.
#In an embodiment, the lid portion 12 houses (e.g., incorporates within it) an inertial sensor, or motion sensor, 20, in particular an accelerometer, configured to detect and/or calculate values of acceleration of the lid portion 12 along respective detection axes x1, y1, z1. Sensor data, which are generated by the sensor 20 for each detection axis x1, y1, z1, may be a time series, where the ordinate axis denotes acceleration (measured in units of gravitation force, g, where 1 g=9.81 m/s2) and where the abscissa axis denotes time (measured in seconds). The sensor 20 may be configured to sense vibration or acceleration of the device 10 in each detection axis x1, y1, z1. For example, the sensor 20 may generate sensor data that is indicative of vibration or acceleration of the device 10 in the lateral axis (x1), longitudinal axis (y1), and vertical or normal axis (z1), respectively. The sensor data may be generated by sampling an analog signal sensed by the sensor 20. In such embodiments, the sensor 20 may include a sampling circuit therein. The sampling circuit may be implemented using one or more sampling circuits known in the art (e.g., a sample-and-hold circuit).