IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,891,691
Granted Patent B2
US 9,891,691 · App. 14/039,220 · Granted Feb 13, 2018

Reducing pin count requirements for implementation of interconnect idle states

Inventors: Naveen Gopal Reddy (Bangalore, IN); Bharath Kumar (Bangalore, IN); Robert E. Gough (Sherwood, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
G06F1/3243Y02B60/1239
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,891,691
App. No.
14/039,220
Granted
Feb 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to reducing pin count requirements for implementation of interconnect idle state(s) are described. In one embodiment, logic receives a general purpose input signal on a signal pin of an Input/Output (I/O) complex logic in response to a control signal. An I/O device (e.g., coupled to the I/O complex logic) enters a low power consumption state in response to the control signal. The logic receives a wake signal on the signal pin of the I/O complex logic and the I/O device exits the low power consumption state in response to the wake signal. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.

Claims (32)

1. An apparatus comprising:

logic, the logic at least partially comprising hardware logic, to receive a general purpose input signal on a signal pin of an Input/Output (I/O) complex logic in response to a control signal, wherein an I/O device coupled to the I/O complex logic is to enter a low power consumption state in response to the control signal,

wherein the logic to receive the general purpose input signal is to receive a wake signal on the signal pin of the I/O complex logic, wherein the I/O device is to exit the low power consumption state in response to the wake signal, wherein the I/O device is to communicate with the I/O complex logic only through the logic to receive the general purpose input signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to stop transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to start transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the wake signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to generate one or more general purpose input output signals in response to an indication from software.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is to configure the one or more general purpose input output signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the I/O device is to wait for expiration of a timer prior to exit from the low power consumption state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the low power consumption state is compliant with a run time D3 state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising memory to store operating system software, wherein the operating system software is to control a power state of the I/O device via one or more general purpose input output signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the logic, one or more processor cores, and memory are located on a single integrated circuit die.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first logic, a general purpose input signal on a signal pin of an Input/Output (I/O) complex logic in response to a control signal, wherein an I/O device coupled to the I/O complex logic is to enter a low power consumption state in response to the control signal,

wherein a wake signal received on the signal pin of the I/O complex logic causes the I/O device to exit the low power consumption state, wherein the I/O device communicates with the I/O complex logic only through the first logic.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the I/O complex logic stopping transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the control signal.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the I/O complex logic starting transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the wake signal.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the I/O complex generating one or more general purpose input output signals in response to an indication from software.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) configuring the one or more general purpose input output signals.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the I/O device waiting for expiration of a timer prior to exit from the low power consumption state.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising storing operating system software in memory, wherein the operating system software controls a power state of the I/O device via one or more general purpose input output signals.

17. A system comprising:

an I/O complex logic to generate one or more general purpose input output signals;

logic, the logic at least partially comprising hardware logic, to receive a general purpose input signal on a signal pin of the I/O complex logic in response to a control signal, wherein an I/O device coupled to the I/O complex logic is to enter a low power consumption state in response to the control signal,

wherein the logic to receive the general purpose input signal is to receive a wake signal on the signal pin of the I/O complex logic, wherein the I/O device is to exit the low power consumption state in response to the wake signal, wherein the I/O device is to communicate with the I/O complex logic only through the logic to receive the general purpose input signal.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to stop transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the control signal.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to start transmission of one or more clock signals to the I/O device in response to the wake signal.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the I/O complex logic is to generate one or more general purpose input output signals in response to an indication from software.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is to configure the one or more general purpose input output signals.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the I/O device is to wait for expiration of a timer prior to exit from the low power consumption state.

23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the low power consumption state is compliant with a run time D3 state.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising memory to store operating system software, wherein the operating system software is to control a power state of the I/O device via one or more general purpose input output signals.

25. The system of claim 17 , wherein the logic, one or more processor cores, and memory are located on a single integrated circuit die.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2013
From: REDDY, NAVEEN GOPAL; KUMAR, BHARATH; GOUGH, ROBERT E.
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031407/0087 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150095670A1 · Apr 2, 2015