Method and system for monitoring module power status in a communication device
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorBryan Chase
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for monitoring operating status of a device are provided. Aspects of the method may include receiving within a chip, a signal indicative of a power status of an on-chip device. An output signal indicative of the power status may be generated from within the chip, while the chip is operating. The generated output signal may be communicated outside the chip via a serial bus, a plurality of pin connections on said chip, and/or a general purpose input/output connection. The generated output signal may be multiplexed on at least one pin on the chip and it may comprise a clock signal and/or a data signal. The data signal may comprise sequential power status information for a plurality of on-chip devices.
Claims24
A method for monitoring operating status of a plurality of on-chip modules, the method comprising:
- receiving, within a chip, a plurality of signals containing power status information regarding the on-chip modules, wherein the signals contain information output from a plurality of resistor drops coupled to the on-chip modules;
- and
- generating, from within the chip, a clock signal and a data signal, wherein a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data signal represent a power status of a specific on-chip module in the plurality of on-chip modules.
An apparatus for monitoring operating status of a plurality of modules within a chip, the apparatus comprising:
- a power rail configured to supply power to the modules;
- a plurality of resistors coupled to the power rail and the modules;
- and
- a power analyzer module coupled to an output port, wherein the power analyzer module is configured to:
- receive a first plurality of signals indicative of a power status of the modules, and
- generate a clock signal and a data signal, wherein a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data signal represent a power status of a specific module in the plurality of modules.
A system on a chip for monitoring operating status of a plurality of powered on-chip modules, the system comprising:
- a plurality of resistors coupled to the powered on-chip modules, wherein a first resistor in the plurality of resistors is coupled to a first on-chip module in the plurality of powered on-chip modules, and wherein a second resistor in the plurality of resistors is coupled to a second on-chip module in the plurality of powered on-chip modules;
- and
- a power analyzer module, wherein the power analyzer module is configured to:
- receive a first plurality of signals containing first power status information regarding the powered on-chip modules, and wherein the first plurality of signals includes a first signal indicating a voltage drop across the first resistor, and a second signal indicating a voltage drop across the second resistor, and
- generate a clock signal and a data signal, wherein a predetermined number of clock cycles of the data signal represent a power status of a specific on-chip module in the plurality of powered on-chip modules;
- an output port coupled to the power analyzer module, wherein the output port is configured to receive the output signal;
- and
- a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the output port, wherein the LEDs are configured to display power consumption information based on the output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.