Patent · US Active

Microcomputer system with reduced power consumption

US8046615B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 2008
Grant dateOct 25, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A sub-microcomputer having a sub-CPU and a power supply control section that controls the power supply to a main microcomputer is disposed in addition to the main microcomputer having a main CPU. A sub-clock section that supplies a sub-clock signal having a lower frequency to the sub-microcomputer can change over between a continuous mode and an intermittent mode. When the main CPU gives an operation stop notification to the sub-CPU, the sub-CPU recognizes the notification, stops the power supply to the main microcomputer, and sets the sub-clock section to the intermittent mode. The sub-CPU determines that the operation state condition is satisfied in the period of the intermittent mode, the sub-CPU changes over the sub-clock section to the continuous mode to restart the power supply to the main microcomputer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.