Patent EP0549165A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0549165A2
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EP
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Power conserving integrated circuit
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1992-12-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A power conserving integrated circuit (20) is coupled to its external power supply (28) only in response to an external event sensed by closure of a switch (30). An initial power connection is made by a transistor (34) in the circuit (22) in response to the external event. After the initial power connection, the transistor (34) remains conducting so as to couple the power supply (28) to the integrated circuit (22) for a predetermined period of time sufficient for a function (40) to be executed by the integrated circuit. The initial power connection is detected by an activity monitor (37) which in response resets a down counter (38) that, through a connection (39) to the transistor (34), holds the transistor (34) in its conducting state until the counter (38) finishes counting clock pulses. The connection is then terminated and is not re-initiated until another external event. Therefore, power is consumed only when necessary, thereby preserving the power source (28).
Inventors
- 👤 Hubert Utz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3228; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/28; H03K17/94; H03K19/00; H03K19/0008; H03K19/0016; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A power conserving integrated circuit comprising: integrated switch means, internal to said integrated circuit, for coupling said integrated circuit to a power supply in response to an external event; and timing means, coupled to said integrated switch means, for maintaining said integrated switch means in a closed state so as to maintain a connection between said power supply and said integrated circuit only for a predetermined period after said external event.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said timing means includes a counter for determining said predetermined period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said timing means includes means for re-initializing said counter in response to each said external event, whereby said integrated switch means maintains a connection between said power supply and said integrated circuit until said predetermined period has passed since a last one of said external events.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A power conserving integrated circuit comprising: integrated switch means, internal to said integrated circuit, for coupling said integrated circuit to a power supply only in response to an external event, said coupling of said power supply to said integrated circuit creating an initial power connection; activity monitoring means for detecting said initial power connection; and means, coupled to said activity monitoring means, for providing a second power connection between said power supply and said integrated circuit, said second power connection superseding said initial power connection and existing for a predetermined period after said initial power connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said providing means includes a counter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
A power conserving integrated circuit package comprising: a housing; an integrated circuit positioned within said housing, said integrated circuit including a power connecting transistor, a counter, an activity monitor, and at least one functional element; and a plurality of pins protruding from said housing and providing electrical connections between said integrated circuit and a plurality of external devices, said external devices including switches and a power supply, each of said switches being activated by an external event and causing an initial connection between said power supply and said power connecting transistor; wherein said activity monitor responds to said initial connection by generating signals which activate said power connecting transistor for a predetermined period of time as defined by said counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The power conserving integrated circuit package of claim 6 wherein said activity monitor includes means for responding to each activation of at least one of said external device switches by maintaining activation of said power connecting transistor until said predetermined period has passed since a last one of said external events.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of reducing the consumption of power by an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of: closing an integrated switch circuit, internal to said integrated circuit, so as to couple said integrated circuit to a power supply in response to an external event; and maintaining said integrated switch circuit in a closed state so as to maintain a connection between said power supply and said integrated circuit only for a predetermined period after said external event.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 8, including the steps of detecting an initial power connection between said integrated circuit and said power supply after said external event; and creating a second power connection superseding said initial power connection, said second power connection coupling said power supply and said integrated circuit for a predetermined period after said initial power connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8, said maintaining step including: responding to predefined external events which occur prior to termination of said predetermined period by maintaining said integrated switch circuit in a closed state until said predetermined period has passed since a last one of said external events.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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