Power saving device and electronic device using the same

1. A power saving device operable in a power saving mode and in a normal mode, comprising a controller including an interrupt terminal for receiving a first interrupt signal based on an input remote control signal, wherein:

during when the first interrupt signal is input to the controller via the interrupt terminal in response to the input remote control signal being received, the controller performs an intermittent operation in which the power saving mode and the normal mode are periodically alternated with each other; and

the controller ends the intermittent operation when the remote control signal is received completely.

2. The power saving device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller stays in the power saving mode until the first interrupt signal is input to the controller via the interrupt terminal.

3. The power saving device according to claim 1 , wherein:

if the remote control signal is a power-requesting signal, the controller stays in the normal mode after the intermittent operation; and

if the remote control signal is a non-power-requesting signal, the controller stays in the power saving mode after the intermittent operation.

4. The power saving device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the controller includes a main circuit, and a timer circuit for giving a second interrupt signal to the main circuit when the timer circuit has counted a predetermined amount of time; and

the intermittent operation includes:

a step in which the timer circuit counts the predetermined amount of time;

a step in which the controller transitions from the normal mode to the power saving mode;

a step in which the timer circuit gives the second interrupt signal to the main circuit when the timer circuit has counted the predetermined amount of time; and

a step in which the controller transitions from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the main circuit receives the second interrupt signal.

5. The power saving device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the controller includes a main circuit, a timer circuit for giving a second interrupt signal to the main circuit when the timer circuit has counted a predetermined amount of time, and an oscillator circuit for supplying a clock signal to the main circuit and the timer circuit;

the power saving mode until the first interrupt signal is input to the interrupt terminal is a first power saving mode in which the oscillator circuit does not supply a clock signal to the main circuit or the timer circuit; and

the power saving mode during the intermittent operation is a second power saving mode in which the oscillator circuit does not supply the clock signal to the main circuit but supplies the clock signal to the timer circuit.

6. The power saving device according to claim 1 , wherein a period of the intermittent operation is smaller than a period of a code of the remote control signal.

7. The power saving device according to claim 1 , wherein the input remote control signal is analyzed in the normal mode during the intermittent operation.

8. A power saving device operable in a power saving mode and in a normal mode, comprising a controller including an interrupt terminal for receiving a first interrupt signal based on an input remote control signal, wherein:

the controller stays in the power saving mode until the first interrupt signal is input to the controller via the interrupt terminal; and

during when the first interrupt signal is input to the controller via the interrupt terminal in response to the input remote control signal being received, the controller performs an intermittent operation in which the power saving mode and the normal mode are periodically alternated with each other.

9. The power saving device according to claim 8 , wherein:

the controller includes a main circuit, a timer circuit for giving a second interrupt signal to the main circuit when the timer circuit has counted a predetermined amount of time, and an oscillator circuit for supplying a clock signal to the main circuit and the timer circuit;

the power saving mode until the first interrupt signal is input to the interrupt terminal is a first power saving mode in which the oscillator circuit does not supply a clock signal to the main circuit or the timer circuit; and

the power saving mode during the intermittent operation is a second power saving mode in which the oscillator circuit does not supply the clock signal to the main circuit but supplies the clock signal to the timer circuit.

10. The power saving device according to claim 8 , wherein the input remote control signal is analyzed in the normal mode during the intermittent operation.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a remote control signal receiving circuit for receiving a remote control signal; and

a microcomputer operable in a power saving mode and in a normal mode, including an interrupt terminal for receiving a first interrupt signal based on the input remote control signal, wherein:

the microcomputer stays in the power saving mode until the first interrupt signal is input to the microcomputer via the interrupt terminal;

during when the first interrupt signal is input to the microcomputer in response to the input remote control signal being received, the microcomputer performs an intermittent operation in which the power saving mode and the normal mode are periodically alternated with each other; and

the microcomputer ends the intermittent operation when the remote control signal is received completely.

12. The power saving device according to claim 11 , wherein the input remote control signal is analyzed in the normal mode during the intermittent operation.