IP Library Granted Patent US 7,555,664
Granted Patent B2
US 7,555,664 · App. 11/343,841 · Granted Jun 30, 2009

Independent control of core system blocks for power optimization

Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,555,664
App. No.
11/343,841
Granted
Jun 30, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power management commands are provided to a power management unit of a processing device, wherein the power management unit coupled to a core system block of the processing device. Sampling of the core system block is performed in response to the power management commands by the power management unit, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the core system block.

Claims (33)

1. A method, comprising:

providing power management commands to a power management unit of a processing device, wherein the power management unit is coupled to a core system block of the processing device, wherein the power management commands are provided to the power management unit under control of a processor of the processing device; and

sampling the core system block under control of the power management unit and in response to the power management commands, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the core system block while the processor is in a sleep mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the core system block includes a power supply monitor, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the power supply monitor to monitor an output power of a power supply coupled to the power supply monitor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the core system block includes a voltage reference, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the voltage reference.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the voltage reference is coupled to a sampling switch, the sampling switch to allow a voltage reference output to pass to a consumer circuit during a sampling instance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the power management commands are provided to the power management unit via a power management register coupled to the power management unit.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

executing instructions by a processor of the processing device, wherein the instructions initiate the loading of the power management register with values associated with the power management commands.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

defining the power management commands in the instructions; and

storing the instructions in a storage unit of the processing device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein sampling occurs while a processor of the processing device is in a sleep mode.

9. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, if executed, cause operations comprising:

providing power management commands to a power management unit of a processing device under control of a processor of the processing device, wherein the power management unit is coupled to a core system block of the processing device,

wherein the power management unit is responsive to the power management commands to control sampling of the core system block, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the core system block while the processor is in a sleep mode.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the core system block includes a power supply monitor, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the power supply monitor to monitor an output power of a power supply coupled to the power supply monitor.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the core system block includes a voltage reference, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the voltage reference.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein providing the power management commands includes loading a power management register coupled to the power management unit with values associated with the power management commands.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein the instructions are part of an application code stored in the processing device.

14. A processing device, comprising:

a core system block;

a power management unit coupled to the core system block;

a processor coupled to the power management unit; and

a storage unit coupled to the processor, wherein the storage unit including instructions that, if executed by the processor, will cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing power management commands to the power management unit, wherein the power management unit is responsive to the power management commands to perform sampling of the core system block, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the core system block while the processor is in a sleep mode.

15. The processing device of claim 14 wherein the core system block includes a power supply monitor, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the power supply monitor to monitor an output power of a power supply coupled to the power supply monitor.

16. The processing device of claim 14 wherein the core system block includes a voltage reference, wherein sampling includes periodically powering the voltage reference.

17. The processing device of claim 16 wherein the voltage reference is coupled to a sampling switch, the sampling switch to allow a voltage reference output to pass to a consumer circuit during a sampling instance.

18. The processing device of claim 14 , further comprising a power management register coupled between the processor and the power management unit, wherein providing the power management commands includes loading the power management register with values associated with the power management commands.

19. The processing device of claim 14 , further comprising a second core system block, wherein sampling of the second core system block is independent of the sampling of the core system block.

20. The processing device of claim 14 wherein the instructions are part of an application code stored in the storage unit.

Assignments (5)
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 041175/0939 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040908/0960 →
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 Jan 31, 2006
From: SULLAM, BERT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017525/0334 →
Continuity (1)
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