Abstract An event driven wake-up system for controlling current consumption by a microcontroller that controls a data input device used to enter data to a data processing system is provided. The wake-up system include a data input device, such as a keyboard, that is responsive to an external event, such as depression of a key on the keyboard, by providing a signal indicative of the occurrence of the external event. The microcontroller responds to the external event by generating a data character that corresponds to the signal received from the data input device and provides that data character to the CPU of the data processing system. The microcontroller includes means for sensing inactivity at the data input device and for entering the microcontroller into a reduce current consumption mode when such inactivity is sensed. Wake-up logic responds to an input signal from the data input device and/or from the data processing system when the microcontroller is in the reduced current consumption mode by providing a wake-up signal that removes the microcontroller from the reduced current consumption mode.
A microcontroller that operates in a normal current consumption mode to control a data input device used to enter data into a data processing system, the data input device being responsive to an external event by generating an active signal indicative of the occurrence of the external event, the microcontroller comprising: (a) halt means that responds to an event indicative of inactivity at the data input device for generating a halt signal, the microcontroller being responsive to the halt signal by entering a reduced current consumption mode; and (b) wake-up means responsive to an active signal generated by the data input device when the microcontroller has entered the reduced current consumption mode by generating a wake-up signal, the microcontroller being responsive to the wake-up signal by returning from the reduced current consumption mode to the normal current consumption mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A microcontroller as in claim 1 wherein the data input device is a keyboard and the external event is the depression of a key on the keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A microcontroller as in claim 1 wherein the data input device is a keyboard and the external event is receipt of data from the data processing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A microcontroller as in claim 1 and further comprising idle means that responds to the wake-up signal by delaying the return of the microcontroller to the normal current consumption mode by a predefined time period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
An event driven wake-up system for controlling current consumption by a data processing system, the event driven wake-up system comprising: (a) a data input device that responds to an external event by generating an active signal indicative of the occurrence of the external event; (b) a microcontroller for controlling the data input device in normal current consumption mode; (c) halt means that responds to an event indicative of inactivity at the data input device for generating a halt signal, the microcontroller being responsive to the halt signal by entering a reduced current consumption mode; and (d) wake-up means responsive to an active signal provided by the data input device when the microcontroller has entered the reduced current consumption mode for providing a wake-up signal that returns the microcontroller from the reduced current consumption mode to the normal current consumption mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A data processing system comprising: (a) a central processing unit for processing data entered into the data processing system; (b) a data input device for entering data into the data processing system, the data input device being responsive to an external event by generating an active signal indicative of the occurrence of the external event; (c) a microcontroller that controls the operation of the data input device in a normal current consumption mode; (d) halt means that responds to an event indicative of inactivity at the data input device by generating a halt signal, the microcontroller being responsive to the halt signal by entering a reduced current consumption mode; and (e) wake-up means that responds to an active signal generated by the data input device when the microcontroller is in the reduced current consumption mode by generating a wake-up signal, the microcontroller being responsive to the wake-up signal by returning from the reduced current consumption mode to the normal current consumption mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 5 or 6 wherein the data input device is a keyboard and the external event is depression of a key on the keyboard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 5 or 6 wherein the data input device is a keyboard and the external event is receipt of data from the central processing unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 5 or 6 further comprising idle means that responds to the wake-up signal by delaying the microcontroller's return to the normal current consumption mode by a predefined time period.
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