Configuring power domains of a microcontroller system
A microcontroller system is organized into power domains. A power manager of the microcontroller system can change the power configuration of a power domain in response to event from an event generating module without activating a processor of the microcontroller system.
1. A microcontroller system comprising:
a processor;
a power manager coupled to the processor; and
an event generating module coupled to the power manager;
wherein the microcontroller system is organized into a plurality of power domains, including a first power domain including the processor and a second power domain different from the first power domain, the event generating module being in a different power domain from the processor and the second power domain, the power manager being in a different power domain from the processor, the event generating module, and the second power domain; and
wherein the power manager is configured to perform operations comprising:
powering down the first power domain so that the processor is inactive;
receiving an event from the event generating module, the event being associated with the event generating module and independent of a power state of the processor; and
in response to receiving the event from the event generating module and prior to activating the processor, changing the second power domain from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration, independent of the power state of the processor.
2. The microcontroller system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
receiving a different event from a different module of the second power domain; and
returning the second power domain to the prior power configuration.
3. The microcontroller system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
receiving a different event from a different module of the second power domain; and
in response to receiving the different event, changing a third power domain from a different prior power configuration to a different new power configuration.
4. The microcontroller system of claim 3 , the operations further comprising:
in response to receiving the different event, powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active.
5. The microcontroller system of claim 1 , wherein changing the second power domain from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration comprises activating at least one different module so that the different module can perform one or more actions.
6. The microcontroller system of claim 1 , wherein the event generating module is a Real Time Counter (RTC) configured to periodically send the event to the power manager.
7. The microcontroller system of claim 6 , further comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) in the second power domain, and wherein changing the second power domain from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration comprises activating the second power domain so that the ADC can perform an analog to digital conversion.
8. The microcontroller system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an end of conversion event from the ADC;
in response to receiving the end of conversion event, powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active;
receiving a signal from a user interface of the power manager to power down the first power domain and the second power domain; and
in response to receiving the signal from the user interface, powering down the first power domain and the second power domain.
9. The microcontroller system of claim 1 , wherein the power manager is in a third power domain and the event generating module is in a fourth power domain.
10. A method performed by a power manager of a microcontroller system, the microcontroller system comprising a processor coupled to the power manager and an event generating module coupled to the power manager, the method comprising:
powering down a first power domain of the microcontroller system, the first power domain including the processor, so that the processor is inactive;
receiving an event from the event generating module, the event generating module being in a different power domain from the processor, the event being associated with the event generating module and independent of a power state of the processor;
in response to receiving the event from the event generating module and prior to activating the processor, changing a second power domain of the microcontroller system from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration, independent of the power state of the processor, the second power domain being different from the first power domain and the power domain including the event generating module, the power manager being in a different power domain from the processor, the event generating module, and the second power domain.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a different event from a different module of the second power domain; and
returning the second power domain to the prior power configuration.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a different event from a different module of the second power domain; and
in response to receiving the different event, changing a third power domain from a different prior power configuration to a different new power configuration.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the different event, powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein changing the second power domain from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration comprises activating at least one different module so that the different module can perform one or more actions.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the event generating module is a Real Time Counter (RTC) configured to periodically send the event to the power manager.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the microcontroller system further comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) in the second power domain, and wherein changing the second power domain from a prior power configuration to a new power configuration comprises activating the second power domain so that the ADC can perform an analog to digital conversion.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving an end of conversion event from the ADC;
in response to receiving the end of conversion event, powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active;
receiving a signal from a user interface of the power manager to power down the first power domain and the second power domain; and
in response to receiving the signal from the user interface, powering down the first power domain and the second power domain.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power manager is in a third power domain and the event generating module is in a fourth power domain.
19. The microcontroller system of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:
receiving an end of a specified number of conversion events from the ADC; and
in response to receiving the end of the specified number of conversion events, powering down the second power domain so that the ADC enters a power saving mode and powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving an end of a specified number of conversion events from the ADC; and
in response to receiving the end of the specified number of conversion events, powering down the second power domain so that the ADC enters a power saving mode and powering up the first power domain so that the processor is active.