Patent US5909585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5909585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable remote terminal in which its clock frequency is switched
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-17
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2016-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A portable terminal comprising a state monitoring portion for monitoring an operating state of a microprocessor in a main control portion, and for increasing a clock frequency when the microprocessor conducts software processing in the main control portion, and for decreasing a clock frequency to supply the minimum operating clock for the microprocessor enough to operate when the microprocessor does not conducts the software processing. The present invention can save the power of the portable terminal effectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazumi Shinmiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A portable terminal in which its clock frequency is switched, comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal, a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate, and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, an operating state of said software processing portion, wherein said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to a high frequency when said software processing is being conducted and sets a frequency of said clock signal to a low frequency when said processing is not being conducted and when no processing is conducted by said microprocessor for said software processing portion, the clock supply portion sets the clock frequency to a minimum, said minimum being below the operating frequency of the software processing portion but high enough for said state monitoring portion to operate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A portable terminal in which its clock frequency is switched, comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal, a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate, and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, an operating state of said software processing portion, wherein said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to a high frequency when said software processing is being conducted and sets a frequency of said clock signal to a low frequency when said processing is not being conducted and when no processing is conducted by said microprocessor for said software processing portion, the clock supply portion sets the clock frequency to a minimum, said minimum being below the operating frequency of the software processing portion but high enough for said state monitoring portion to operate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The portable terminal according to claim 1 wherein said state monitoring portion changes said clock frequency up and down according to respective software operating load caused by said software processing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The portable terminal according to claim 1 wherein said state monitoring portion shares a microprocessor with said software processing portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein said minimum clock frequency is below 1 MHz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein said minimum clock frequency is 0.3 MHz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The portable terminal according to claim 2 wherein said state monitoring portion shares a microprocessor with said software processing portion, and when no processing are conducted by said microprocessor for said software processing portion, the clock supply portion sets the minimum clock frequency which is enough for said state monitoring portion to operate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
A portable terminal in which its clock frequency is switched, comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal, a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate, and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, whether the microprocessor accesses an external memory, wherein said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to a high frequency when the microprocessor accesses an external memory and sets a frequency of said clock signal to a low frequency when said microprocessor does not access the external memory and when no memory accesses or software processing is conducted by said microprocessor for said software processing portion, the clock supply portion sets the clock frequency to a minimum, said minimum being below the operating frequency of the software processing portion but high enough for said state monitoring portion to operate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
205 words
A portable terminal in which its clock frequency is switched, comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal, a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate, and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, whether the microprocessor accesses an external memory, wherein said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to a high frequency when the microprocessor accesses an external memory and sets a frequency of said clock signal to a low frequency when said microprocessor does not access the external memory and when no memory accesses or software processing is conducted by said microprocessor for said software processing portion, the clock supply portion sets the clock frequency to a minimum, said minimum being below the operating frequency of the software processing portion but high enough for said state monitoring portion to operate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The portable terminal according to claim 7 wherein said clock supply portion sets the minimum clock frequency which is enough for said state monitoring portion to operate, when the microprocessor does not access the external memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
A power saving portable telephone having a communication state and a non-communication state comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal; a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate wherein said clock signal frequency is adjustable; and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, an operating state of said software processing portion, said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to high when said software processing is being conducted and sets a frequency of said clock signal to minimum when said processing is not being conducted, wherein the setting of said clock frequency to high or minimum is independent of whether the telephone is in the communication state or non-communication state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
183 words
A power saving portable telephone having a communication state and a non-communication state comprising: a main controlling portion having a software processing portion using a microprocessor in said main controlling portion according to an interruption, said microprocessor including an operating system for driving software in said software processing portion and generating an interrupt signal; a clock supply portion for supplying to said main controlling portion a clock signal which causes said microprocessor to operate wherein said clock signal frequency is adjustable; and a state monitoring portion for monitoring, via the interrupt signal received from the operating system, an operating state of said software processing portion, said state monitoring portion sends a clock switching signal to said clock supply portion so that said clock supply portion sets a frequency of said clock signal to high when said software processing is being conducted and sets a frequency of said clock signal to minimum when said processing is not being conducted, wherein the setting of said clock frequency to high or minimum is independent of whether the telephone is in the communication state or non-communication state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The portable telephone according to claim 9, wherein said minimum clock frequency is below 1 MHz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The portable telephone according to claim 9, wherein said minimum clock frequency is 0.3 MHz.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |