US 8,713,338 B2 · Methods and apparatus for low power out-of-band communications

Abstract

A signal generator circuit for reducing power consumption of out-of-band message communications between a first device including the signal generator circuit and a second device coupled to the first device comprises a switching circuit and a controller coupled to the switching circuit. The controller is operative to receive a reference clock signal and at least a first control signal indicative of a request for the first device to send a message to the second device when the first device is in a first mode of operation. The controller generates an output control signal and an output data signal. The output control signal is operative as a function of the first control signal to selectively power up the switching circuit and a transmitter driver during the first mode. The output data signal includes the message supplied to the transmitter driver for transmission to the second device during the first mode.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A signal generator circuit for reducing power consumption of out-of-band message communications between a first device, in which the signal generator circuit resides, and a second device in operative communication with the first device, the signal generator circuit comprising:

a switching circuit;
and
a controller coupled to the switching circuit, the switching circuit and controller being connected in a transmitter data path of the first device, the controller being operative:
to receive a reference clock signal;
to receive at least a first control signal indicative of a request for the first device to send an out-of-band message to the second device, when the first device is in a first mode of operation;
to generate an output control signal, the output control signal being operative as a function of the at least first control signal to selectively power up the switching circuit and a transmitter driver while remaining functional blocks in a transmitter portion of the first device remain powered off during the first mode;
and to generate an output data signal, the output data signal comprising the out-of-band message supplied to the transmitter driver, via the switching circuit, for transmission to the second device during the first mode;
wherein an established connection is maintained between the first and second devices without a need to power up substantially all of the transmitter portion of the first device when the first device is in the first mode of operation, and wherein upon assertion of the first control signal during the first mode, the controller powers up the switching circuit and the transmitter driver, and upon de-assertion of the first control signal during the first mode, the controller is operative to power down the switching circuit and transmitter driver.

5 more elements

a switching circuit;
and
a controller coupled to the switching circuit, the switching circuit and controller being connected in a transmitter data path of the first device, the controller being operative:
to receive a reference clock signal;
to receive at least a first control signal indicative of a request for the first device to send an out-of-band message to the second device, when the first device is in a first mode of operation;
to generate an output control signal, the output control signal being operative as a function of the at least first control signal to selectively power up the switching circuit and a transmitter driver while remaining functional blocks in a transmitter portion of the first device remain powered off during the first mode;
to generate an output data signal, the output data signal comprising the out-of-band message supplied to the transmitter driver, via the switching circuit, for transmission to the second device during the first mode;
and to receive a second control signal, the first control signal being indicative of a request to send a ping message to the second device during the first mode, the second control signal being indicative of a request to send a low frequency periodic signaling (LFPS) message to the second device during the first mode.

5 more elements

A serial device having reduced power consumption for out-of-band message communications between the serial device and a host device in operative communication with the serial device, the serial device comprising:

a transmitter, including data path circuitry operative to receive an input data word and to generate an output data stream, clock path circuitry operative to generate at least one control signal for controlling processing of the input data word, and a driver operative to transmit the output data stream to the host device;
a clock multiplication unit operative to generate at least one timing signal for use by the clock path circuitry in the transmitter;
and
a signal generator circuit connected with the transmitter data path circuitry, the signal generator circuit comprising:
a switching circuit;
and
a controller coupled to the switching circuit, the controller being operative:
to receive a reference clock signal;
to receive at least a first control signal indicative of a request for the serial device to send an out-of-band message to the host device, when the serial device is in a first mode of operation;
to generate an output control signal, the output control signal being operative as a function of the at least first control signal to selectively power up the switching circuit and the driver while remaining functional blocks in the transmitter remain powered off during the first mode;
and to generate an output data signal, the output data signal comprising the out-of-band message supplied to the driver, via the switching circuit, for transmission to the host device during the first mode;
wherein an established connection is maintained between the serial and host devices without a need to power up substantially all of the transmitter in the serial device when the serial device is in the first mode of operation, and wherein upon assertion of the first control signal during the first mode, the controller powers up the switching circuit and the driver in the transmitter, and upon de-assertion of the first control signal during the first mode, the controller is operative to power down the switching circuit and transmitter driver.

9 more elements

a transmitter, including data path circuitry operative to receive an input data word and to generate an output data stream, clock path circuitry operative to generate at least one control signal for controlling processing of the input data word, and a driver operative to transmit the output data stream to the host device;
a clock multiplication unit operative to generate at least one timing signal for use by the clock path circuitry in the transmitter;
and
a signal generator circuit connected with the transmitter data path circuitry, the signal generator circuit comprising:
a switching circuit;
and
a controller coupled to the switching circuit, the controller being operative:
to receive a reference clock signal;
to receive at least a first control signal indicative of a request for the serial device to send an out-of-band message to the host device, when the serial device is in a first mode of operation;
to generate an output control signal, the output control signal being operative as a function of the at least first control signal to selectively power up the switching circuit and the driver while remaining functional blocks in the transmitter remain powered off during the first mode;
to generate an output data signal, the output data signal comprising the out-of-band message supplied to the driver, via the switching circuit, for transmission to the host device during the first mode;
and to receive a second control signal, the first control signal being indicative of a request to send a ping message to the host device during the first mode, the second control signal being indicative of a request to send a low frequency periodic signaling (LFPS) message to the host device during the first mode.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for low power out-of-band communications

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for low power out-of-band communications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21