US 7,032,120 B2 · Method and apparatus for minimizing power requirements in a computer peripheral device while in suspend state and returning to full operation state without loss of data

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for minimizing power consumption in a computer peripheral device during suspend state and waking up from suspend state without losing pre-suspend configuration information. The power supply to the peripheral device is split into two power rails, namely, a first rail that is unswitched and a second rail that is switched. The switched power rail provides power to components of the peripheral device other than the bus interface circuit. The unswitched power rail provides power to the bus interface circuit. When the device enters suspend mode, first power is removed from the components other than the bus interface circuit, then all outputs from the other components of the peripheral device to the bus interface circuit and all of the outputs from the bus interface circuit to the other components are forced to logic level 0 so that they do not float during suspend mode, and then finally the clock is disabled. When the device wakes up, power is first restored to the components, then the clock is turned on, and finally the outputs of the various components are released from logic level 0.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A computer peripheral device adapted to couple to a computer via a bus and further adapted to enter a suspend mode upon occurrence of at least one event, said device comprising:

a data processing device;
a bus interface circuit for interfacing between said data processing device and said bus;
wherein said data processing device is coupled to a power source through a switch and said bus interface circuit is coupled directly to said power source wherein said bus interface circuit retains power during a suspend mode;
and
a power management circuit coupled directly to said power source, said power management circuit being a subcircuit of said bus interface circuit and being adapted to turn off said switch responsive to said event so as to remove power from said data processing device.

2 more elements

A computer peripheral device adapted to couple to a computer via a bus and further adapted to enter a suspend state responsive to at least one event, said device comprising:

at least one data processing device;
at least one memory operatively coupled to said data processing device;
a bus interface circuit for interfacing between said bus, on the one hand, and said data processing device and memory, on the other hand, wherein said data processing device is coupled to a power source through a switch and said bus interface circuit is coupled directly to said power source wherein said bus interface circuit retains power during a suspend mode;
and
a power management circuit coupled directly to said power source, said power management circuit being a subcircuit of said bus interface circuit and being adapted to turn off said switch responsive to said event so as to remove power from said data processing device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for minimizing power requirements in a computer peripheral device while in suspend state and returning to full operation state without loss of data

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for minimizing power requirements in a computer peripheral device while in suspend state and returning to full operation state without loss of data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24