Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for awakening bus circuitry from a low power state

US6708278B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by
13References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 31, 2002
Grant dateMar 16, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 31, 2022

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.