Microcontroller with auto-alarm device
US6357012B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microcontroller with a self-prompting (self-wake-up) device, particularly for use in electrical adjusting drives, having a control device for specifying an active and an inactive operating state to economize on supply power, contains an oscillator for emitting a prompting signal or a clock frequency. This oscillator is a low-frequency, power-saving oscillator. Provided in the microcontroller is a circuit, preferably a disconnectible phase-locking loop, which, from the low frequency of the oscillator, generates a substantially higher clock frequency for microcontroller core. The low-frequency oscillator is also integrated as an original component into the microcontroller. An undervoltage detection, whose output signal is able to be supplied directly to the microcontroller core, indicates undervoltage conditions immediately. Using a time-switch logic which monitors a non-operative time of the microcontroller core, the core is activated again via a prompting circuit. In the case of certain functions, it is also possible to work in a power-saving manner solely with the low frequency. Thus, a necessary buffer capacitance can be smaller.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.