TWI870205B - Power consumption control method for microcontroller unit and microcontroller unit system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A microcontroller unit system is provided. The microcontroller unit system includes: at least one analog component; and a monitoring system, electrically connected to the at least one analog component, for: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component; determining whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes; when it is determined that signal output state of an analog component of the at least one analog component has changed, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption state mode; and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog component has not changed, controlling the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of current state, voltage state, and bandwidth state.

Description

Power consumption control method for microcontroller unit and microcontroller using the same Unit system

The present invention relates to a power consumption control technology, and in particular to a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and a microcontroller unit system using the same.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly used, various electronic devices including sensors and embedded devices are coming out one after another. In addition to being thin, light, and compact, they also need to have high performance. In order to extend their service life, electronic devices and the microcontroller units (MCUs) they contain must save power as much as possible.

The sensing operation and data of the sensor data are usually processed by the analog signal processing unit (also known as analog intellectual property (IP), hereinafter referred to as analog device) in the microcontroller unit. In order to achieve high-performance data analysis, the analog device will operate at a high speed, resulting in a high power consumption problem. However, if the analog device is operated in a low power state, the characteristics/capability of the signal processing unit of the analog device will be reduced, thereby affecting the signal and analysis.

Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of microcontroller units while maintaining effective signal processing capabilities is an important issue worthy of study.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present disclosure proposes a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a microcontroller unit system using the method to reduce power consumption.

The disclosed embodiment provides a microcontroller unit system, comprising: at least one analog element; and a monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one analog element, for: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element; determining whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element has changed; when determining that a signal output state of the at least one analog element has changed, controlling the analog element to operate in a non-low power mode; and when determining that the signal output state of the analog element has not changed, controlling the analog element to operate in a low power mode, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.

Optionally, the number of the at least one analog element is plural, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog elements according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog elements and sequentially determines whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog elements have changed.

Optionally, the monitoring system includes a hardware counter or timer for generating a periodic signal, and the monitoring system detects the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component according to the periodic signal and determines whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component changes.

Optionally, the monitoring system includes at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a register, and the monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog component and determines whether the signal output state of the analog component changes according to a flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register.

Optionally, the analog component is one of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an analog comparator (ACMP) and an operational amplifier (OPA).

The disclosed embodiment further provides a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit, the microcontroller unit includes at least one analog element, the power consumption control method includes: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element through a monitoring system; judging whether the non-at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element has changed through the monitoring system; when judging that the signal output state of the analog element in the at least one analog element has changed, controlling the analog element to operate in a non-low power consumption mode through the monitoring system; and when judging that the signal output state of the analog element has not changed, controlling the analog element to operate in a low power consumption mode through the monitoring system, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state.

Based on the above, the power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and the microcontroller unit system using the method disclosed herein can reduce the power consumption of the microcontroller unit and have effective signal processing capabilities.

100: Microcontroller unit system

110: Analog components

120: Monitoring system

200: Microcontroller unit system

210, 212, 214: Analog components

220: Monitoring system

300: Monitoring system

310:Timer

320: Detector

S402, S404, S406, S408, S410, S412, S414, S416, S418, S420, S422, S424, S426, S428, S430, S432, S434: Steps

The attached figures are provided to enable a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs to further understand the present invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification of the present invention. The attached figures show exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are used together with the specification of the present invention to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit (MCU) system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure proposes a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a microcontroller unit system using the same to solve the problems mentioned in the background technology. In order to make the features and advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following description contains specific information related to the exemplary embodiments in the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings and the detailed descriptions attached thereto in the present disclosure are only exemplary embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will think of other variations and embodiments of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding elements in the accompanying drawings may be indicated by the same or corresponding figure numbers. Furthermore, the drawings and illustrations in this disclosure are generally not drawn to scale and are not intended to correspond to actual relative sizes.

FIG1 is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit system of an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG1 , the microcontroller unit system 100 includes an analog component 110 and a monitoring system 120. The analog component 110 can support a low power consumption mode (e.g., a power saving mode) and a non-low power consumption mode (e.g., a normal mode or a high power consumption mode). The monitoring system 120 is electrically connected to the analog component 110.

The monitoring system 120 is used to detect (e.g., read, obtain) the signal output state of the analog element 110. The monitoring system 120 is used to determine whether the signal output state of the analog element 110 has changed. The signal output state may include at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state (e.g., a change from 8M to 2M), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. When it is determined that the signal output state of the analog element 110 has changed, the monitoring system 120 is used to control the analog element to operate in a non-low power mode (e.g., a normal mode or a high power mode); and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog element has not changed, the monitoring system 120 is used to control the analog element to operate in a low power mode (e.g., a power saving mode).

In other words, the monitoring system 120 can effectively control the operating state of the analog component 110 to reduce power consumption.

For example, when the analog component originally operates in the non-low power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to remain in the non-low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the non-low power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to switch from the non-low power mode to the low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to switch from the low power mode to the non-low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 120 can control the analog component to remain in the low power mode.

FIG2 is a block diagram of a microcontroller unit system of an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG2, the microcontroller unit system 200 includes a plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 and a monitoring system 220. Each of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 can support a low power consumption mode (e.g., a power saving mode) and a non-low power consumption mode (e.g., a normal mode or a high power consumption mode). The monitoring system 220 is electrically connected to the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214.

The monitoring system 220 is used to detect (e.g., read, obtain) a plurality of signal output states of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 (e.g., not simultaneously/sequentially). The monitoring system 220 is used to determine (e.g., not simultaneously/sequentially) whether the plurality of signal output states of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 have changed. Specifically, the monitoring system 220 is used to detect the signal output state of each of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214. The signal output state may include at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state (e.g., a change from 8M to 2M), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. When it is determined that the signal output state of an analog element (such as analog element 214) among the plurality of analog elements has changed, the monitoring system 220 is used to control the analog element (such as analog element 214) to operate in a non-low power mode (such as a normal mode or a high power mode); and when it is determined that the signal output state of the analog element has not changed, the monitoring system 220 is used to control the analog element to operate in a low power mode (such as a power saving mode).

That is, the monitoring system 220 can effectively control the individual operating status of each of the plurality of analog components 210.

For example, when the analog component originally operates in the non-low power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to remain in the non-low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the non-low power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to switch from the non-low power mode to the low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power mode and the signal output state changes, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to switch from the low power mode to the non-low power mode. When the analog component originally operates in the low power mode and the signal output state does not change, the monitoring system 220 can control the analog component to remain in the low power mode.

In some embodiments, the monitoring system 220 may detect the plurality of signal output states of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214 in sequence/time sharing (e.g., polling) according to the plurality of priorities of the plurality of analog components 210, 212, and 214. In some embodiments, the priority of the analog components may depend on the type of the analog components (e.g., analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or analog comparator (ACMP), etc.). For example, when the priority of the analog comparator is higher than that of the analog-to-digital converter, the monitoring system 220 may detect the analog comparator first and then the analog-to-digital converter. In some embodiments, analog components that change their signal output states more frequently may have (e.g., be configured to have) a higher priority, and analog components that change their signal output states less frequently may have (e.g., be configured to have) a lower priority.

FIG3 is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The monitoring system 300 includes a (firmware) timer (or hardware counter) 310. The timer 310 can be used to generate a periodic signal (e.g., an indication). The monitoring system 300 can be, for example, the monitoring system 120 or the monitoring system 220. For example, the monitoring system (e.g., the monitoring system 120) can periodically detect the signal output state of the analog element 110 and determine whether the signal output state of the analog element 110 has changed based on the periodic signal. The monitoring system (e.g., monitoring system 220) can periodically and sequentially (e.g., polling) detect the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 according to the periodic signal and determine whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog components 210, 212, and 214 have changed.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the monitoring system 300 includes a detector (or a detection unit) 320. The detector 320 may include at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a (software) register. The monitoring system 300 may detect the signal output state of the analog component and determine whether the signal output state of the analog component has changed based on the flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register.

In some embodiments, the analog element may be one of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator, and an operational amplifier (OPA), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, when the change (amplitude) of the signal output state is not less than a specific valve value or a specific ratio, the monitoring system (e.g., monitoring system 120 or monitoring system 220) can determine that the signal output state of the analog element has changed. When the change of the signal output state is less than a specific valve value or a specific ratio, the monitoring system can determine that the signal output state of the analog element has not changed.

In some embodiments, the low power consumption mode may mean reducing the clock frequency or stopping the generation of clock signals, disabling the core computing unit (such as the central processing unit (CPU)), etc., but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

It is worth noting that when the analog device is controlled to change the operation mode, the analog device can maintain providing/outputting the same supply voltage.

According to the above embodiments, the following power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit can be obtained (for example, summarized into). FIG4 is a flow chart of a power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG4, the method includes the following steps:

In step S402, the analog component (abbreviated as IP in FIG. 4 ) is turned on.

In step S404, determine whether the IP is in automatic power saving mode. When it is determined that the IP is not in automatic power saving mode/low power consumption mode, execute step S406. When it is determined that the IP is in automatic power saving mode, execute step S408.

In step S406, the IP operates in a non-low power mode (hereinafter referred to as the normal mode).

In step S408, the IP operates in automatic power saving mode. Determine whether the number of IPs is single or multiple. When it is determined that the number of IPs is not multiple (e.g., a single analog component 110), execute step S410. When it is determined that the number of IPs is multiple (e.g., analog components 210, 212, 214), execute step S418.

In step S410, the polling detection mode is activated by the monitoring system to detect the IP (e.g., a single analog component 110).

In step S412, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output status of the IP has changed. When it is determined that the signal output status of the IP has not changed, step S414 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output status of the IP has changed, step S416 is executed. After completing/ending the detection and control of the IP, step S412 is re-executed.

In step S414, the IP is controlled to operate in low power consumption mode through the monitoring system.

In step S416, the IP is controlled to operate in normal mode through the monitoring system. After completing/ending the detection and control of the IP, re-execute step S412.

In step S418, the monitoring system starts the time-sharing round-robin detection mode to detect IP_1 (e.g., analog component 210) ~ IP_N (e.g., analog component 214) in a time-sharing manner.

In step S420, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output state of IP_1 has changed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_1 has not changed, step S422 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output state of IP_1 has changed, step S424 is executed.

In step S422, IP_1 is controlled to operate in low power consumption mode through the monitoring system.

In step S424, IP_1 is controlled to operate in normal mode through the monitoring system.

In step S426, the polling detection of IP_1 is completed/ended. Then, IP_2 (e.g., analog component 212) ~ IP_N (e.g., analog component 214) are detected sequentially through the monitoring system.

In step S428, the monitoring system determines whether the signal output status of IP_N has changed. When it is determined that the signal output status of IP_N has not changed, step S430 is executed. When it is determined that the signal output status of IP_N has changed, step S432 is executed.

In step S430, the monitoring system controls IP_N to operate in low power consumption mode.

In step S432, IP_N is controlled to operate in normal mode through the monitoring system.

In step S434, the polling detection of IP_N is completed/ended, and step S418 is re-executed.

In summary, the power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit and the microcontroller unit system using the method disclosed herein can reduce the power consumption of the microcontroller unit and have effective signal processing capabilities.

Although this application has been disclosed using the above embodiments, they are not used to limit this disclosure. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the above embodiments within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, which still fall within the technical scope protected by this disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of this disclosure shall be subject to the scope defined by the patent application.

100: Microcontroller unit system

110: At least one analog component

120: Monitoring system

Claims (8)

A microcontroller unit system includes: at least one analog component; and a monitoring system electrically connected to the at least one analog component, for: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component; determining whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog component has changed; when determining that a signal output state of an analog component of the at least one analog component has changed, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption mode; and when determining that the signal output state of the analog component has changed, controlling the analog component to operate in a non-low power consumption mode. When the output state does not change, the analog element is controlled to operate in a low power consumption mode, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state, and a bandwidth state; wherein the at least one analog element is plural in number, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog elements according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog elements and sequentially determines whether the multiple signal output states of the multiple analog elements have changed. A microcontroller unit system as described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes a hardware counter or a timer for generating a cycle signal, and the monitoring system detects the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element according to the cycle signal and determines whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element changes. A microcontroller unit system as described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes at least one of a hardware sensing circuit and a register, and the monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog element and determines whether the signal output state of the analog element changes according to a flag of the hardware sensing circuit or the register. A microcontroller unit system as described in claim 1, wherein the analog element is one of a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator, and an operational amplifier. A power consumption control method for a microcontroller unit, the microcontroller unit comprising at least one analog element, the power consumption control method comprising: detecting at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element through a monitoring system; determining whether the non-at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element has changed through the monitoring system; when determining that a signal output state of an analog element of the at least one analog element has changed, controlling the analog element to operate in a non-low power consumption mode through the monitoring system; and when determining that the analog element has changed When the signal output state of the analog component does not change, the monitoring system controls the analog component to operate in a low power consumption mode, wherein the signal output state includes at least one of a current state, a voltage state and a bandwidth state; wherein the at least one analog component is plural in number, and the monitoring system sequentially detects the signal output states of the multiple analog components according to the multiple priorities of the multiple analog components and sequentially determines whether the signal output states of the multiple analog components have changed. The power consumption control method as described in claim 5, wherein the monitoring system detects the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element according to a cycle signal and determines whether the at least one signal output state of the at least one analog element changes, wherein the cycle signal is generated by a hardware counter or a timer. The power consumption control method as described in claim 5, wherein the monitoring system detects the signal output state of the analog component according to a hardware sensing circuit or a flag of a register and determines whether the signal output state of the analog component changes. The power consumption control method as described in claim 5, wherein the analog element is one of a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an analog comparator and an operational amplifier.

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