System and method for minimizing power consumption for an object sensor

An apparatus for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation, the apparatus comprising:

• main circuitry that operates the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• low power control circuitry that operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation;
• a first power supply coupled to the low power control circuitry that continually supplies power to the low power control circuitry;
• a second power supply coupled to the main circuitry that supplies power to the main circuitry only when the main circuitry is operating the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• and
• a sensor controller that places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect the object within a specified period of time.

An apparatus for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation, the apparatus comprising:

• main circuitry that operates the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• and
• low power control circuitry that operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation, wherein the low power control circuitry includes:
• a sensor controller that places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect the object within a first specified period of time;
• and
• a low power sequencer that powers down the main circuitry when the sensor controller places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation;
• wherein the low power sequencer powers down the main circuitry by disabling a power supply that supplies power to the main circuitry.

An apparatus for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a fingerprint sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning a finger, the apparatus comprising:

• a fingerprint sensor unit that detects and scans the finger only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation;
• main circuitry having a main power supply, wherein the main circuitry operates the fingerprint sensor unit in the high power mode of operation when the fingerprint sensor unit detects the finger;
• and
• low power control circuitry having a second power supply, wherein the low power control circuitry operates the fingerprint sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the fingerprint sensor unit does not detect the finger within a specified period of time.

A method for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting and scanning the object using the sensor unit only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation;
• operating main circuitry powered by a main power supply to operate the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation when the sensor unit detects the object;
• and
• operating low power control circuitry powered by a second power supply to operate the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect the object within a specified period of time.

A method for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating main circuitry to operate the sensor unit in a high power mode of operation when the sensor unit detects and scans the object only in the high power mode of operation;
• operating low power control circuitry to operate the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect the object within a specified period of time;
• continually supplying power to the low power control circuitry from a first power supply coupled to the low power control circuitry;
• and
• supplying power to the main circuitry from a second power supply coupled to the main circuitry only when the main circuitry is operating in the high power mode of operation.

An apparatus for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation, the apparatus comprising:

• main circuitry that operates the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• low power control circuitry that operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation;
• a power supply coupled to the main circuitry that supplies power to the main circuitry only when the main circuitry is operating the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• and a sensor controller that places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect an object within a specified period of time.

An apparatus for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object only when the sensor unit is operating in a high power mode of operation, the apparatus comprising:

• main circuitry that operates the sensor unit in the high power mode of operation;
• and low power control circuitry that operates the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation, wherein the low power control circuitry includes:
• a sensor controller that places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect an object within a first specified period of time;
• and a low power sequencer that powers down the main circuitry when the sensor controller places the sensor unit in the low power mode of operation;
• wherein the low power sequencer powers down the main circuitry by disabling a power supply that supplies power to the main circuitry.

A method for reducing or minimizing power consumption of a sensor unit that is capable of detecting and scanning an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating main circuitry to operate the sensor unit in a high power mode of operation when the sensor unit detects and scans an object only in the high power mode of operation;
• operating low power control circuitry to operate the sensor unit in a low power mode of operation when the sensor unit does not detect an object within a specified period of time;
• continually supplying power to the low power control circuitry;
• and supplying power to the main circuitry only when the main circuitry is operating in the high power mode of operation.