Apparatus and method for awakening bus circuitry from a low power state
US6460143B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and techniques for awakening bus circuitry from an inactive state as needed are described. The bus circuitry forms part of a computer system and is placed in the inactive state (i.e., shut down) when not needed so as to conserve power. The bus circuitry is associated with a bus and can be awakened out of the inactive state when certain bus events, including resume, connect or disconnect, occur on the bus. The invention is particularly advantageous for computing devices (e.g., portable computers, desktop computers, server computers) where it is desirous to shut down bus circuitry as well as other circuitry (e.g., microprocessor) when not needed so as to reduce power consumption.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.