IP Library Granted Patent US 7,373,531
Granted Patent B2
US 7,373,531 · App. 11/122,123 · Granted May 13, 2008

Signal detection method, frequency detection method, power consumption control method, signal detecting device, frequency detecting device, power consumption control device and electronic apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,373,531
App. No.
11/122,123
Granted
May 13, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power consumption control device for detecting output of a pulse signal from an output terminal of an oscillator as an operation monitoring target and outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the pulse signal is not detected in a predetermined period of time, includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor which are connected in series and have a gate to which the output terminal is connected, and detecting means for detecting a through current flowing through the p-type transistor and n-type transistor, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time.

Claims (40)

1. A signal detection method comprising the steps of:

detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal; and

detecting input of the signal, based on whether or not the through current flowed through the circuit; wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

2. A signal detection method comprising the steps of:

detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal;

determining that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the through current is detected; and

determining that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time.

3. The signal detection method according to claim 2 , wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted.

4. A frequency detection method comprising the steps of:

detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal; and

detecting a frequency of the signal, based on the detected through current; wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

5. A power consumption control method comprising the steps of:

detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal;

determining that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the through current is detected;

determining that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the through current is not detected in a predetermined period of time; and

outputting a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state.

6. A signal detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein

the signal detecting device detects input of the signal, based on whether or not the through current flowed through the circuit; wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

7. A signal detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein

the signal detecting device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current, and

determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time.

8. The signal detecting device according to claim 7 , wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted.

9. A frequency detecting device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal is inputted from an input terminal, wherein

the frequency detecting device detects a frequency of the signal, based on the through current detected by the detector; wherein

the circuit includes a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor with gates to which the signal is inputted, and a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

10. A power consumption control device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal, wherein

the power consumption control device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current,

determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time, and

outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power consumption control device comprising a detector for detecting a through current flowing through a circuit to which a signal outputted from an operation monitoring target is inputted from an input terminal, wherein the power consumption control device determines that the signal is in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when the detector detects the through current, determines that the signal is in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when the detector does not detect the through current in a predetermined period of time, and outputs a power consumption reduction signal when the signal is determined as being in the second state;

a device as an operation monitoring target, which outputs a signal to the power consumption control device, causes the signal to be in a first state in which the signal repeatedly goes to a high level and a low level alternately when it is operating, and causes the signal to be in a second state in which the signal is kept at one of a high level and a low level when it is not operating; and

a power supply control device for executing one of a power supply stopping process and a power supply reducing process for the operation monitoring target, according to the power consumption reduction signal outputted from the power consumption control device.

12. The signal detection method according to claim 3 , wherein the circuit includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

13. The signal detection device of claim 8 , wherein the circuit includes a transistor to perform a current mirror function.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2025
From: SOUTHFORK IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: NEAR FIELD ELECTRONICS LLC
Reel/Frame 071434/0523 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: MONTEREY RESEARCH LLC
To: SOUTHFORK IP HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 071299/0161 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 041178/0061 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040908/0979 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036037/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 031205/0461 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024982/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2008
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021998/0645 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2005
From: SHIMIZU, KATSUYA; KINOSHITA, HIROKO
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 016542/0351 →