Power saving system and method for devices based on universal serial bus

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting power consumption of a USB-based device. The system includes a power supply configured to generate a first supply voltage, a controller configured to receive the first supply voltage and generate a control signal, and a USB component configured to receive the control signal and in response operate in a first USB mode or a second USB mode. The controller is further configured to process information associated with the first supply voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage. If the first supply voltage is higher than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a first logic state. If the first supply voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a second logic state.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified system for adjusting USB power consumption according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified controller used for system for adjusting USB power consumption according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified voltage comparator used for system for adjusting USB power consumption according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram showing performance of controller used for system for adjusting USB power consumption according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting power consumption of a USB-based device, the system comprising: a power supply configured to generate a first supply voltage;a controller configured to receive the first supply voltage and generate a control signal;a USB component configured to receive the control signal and in response operate in a first USB mode or a second USB mode;wherein: the controller is further configured to process information associated with the first supply voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage;if the first supply voltage is higher than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a first logic state;if the first supply voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a second logic state;the USB component is further configured to operate in the first USB mode if the control signal represents the first logic state, and to operate in the second USB mode if the control signal represents the second logic state;the first USB mode is associated with a first power consumption level;the second USB mode is associated with a second power consumption level;the first power consumption level and the second power consumption level are different.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power consumption level is higher than the second power consumption level.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the first USB mode is associated with USB 2.0;the second USB mode is associated with USB 1.1.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first supply voltage is a DC voltage.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the power supply is configured to generate the first supply voltage at a first voltage level if the first supply voltage is converted from an AC voltage;the power supply is configured to generate the first supply voltage at a second voltage level if the first supply voltage is directly supplied by a battery, or is converted from a DC voltage supplied by the battery.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first voltage level is higher than the second voltage level.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the USB component is further configured to receive the first supply voltage.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein: the controller includes a voltage divider and a voltage comparator;the voltage divider is configured to receive the first supply voltage and generate an input voltage, the input voltage being proportional to the first supply voltage;the voltage comparator is configured to receive the input voltage and a reference voltage, process information associated with the input voltage and the reference voltage, and generate the control signal.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the reference voltage is a bandgap reference voltage.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein: if the input voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the control signal represents the first logic state;if the input voltage is lower than the reference voltage, the control signal represents the second logic state.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein: the voltage comparator is further configured to receive a second supply voltage and a ground voltage;the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage can be the same or different.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein: the first logic state is associated with a logic high level;the second logic state is associated with a logic low level.

13. A system for adjusting power consumption of a USB-based device, the system comprising: a power supply configured to generate a first supply voltage;a controller configured to receive the first supply voltage and generate a control signal;a USB component configured to receive the control signal and in response operate in a first USB mode or a second USB mode;wherein: the power supply is further configured to generate the first supply voltage at a first voltage level if the first supply voltage is converted from an AC voltage;the power supply is further configured to generate the first supply voltage at a second voltage level if the first supply voltage is directly supplied by a battery, or is converted from a first DC voltage supplied by the battery;the controller is further configured to process information associated with the first supply voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage;if the first supply voltage is higher than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a first logic state;if the first supply voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a second logic state;the USB component is further configured to operate in the first USB mode if the control signal represents the first logic state, and to operate in the second USB mode if the control signal represents the second logic state;the first USB mode is associated with a first power consumption level;the second USB mode is associated with a second power consumption level;the first voltage level is higher than the second voltage level;the first power consumption level is higher than the second power consumption level.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein: the first USB mode is associated with USB 2.0;the second USB mode is associated with USB 1.1.

15. A method for adjusting power consumption of a USB-based device, the method comprising: generating a first supply voltage;processing information associated with the first supply voltage;generating a control signal based on at least information associated with the first supply voltage;receiving the control signal;in response to the control signal, switching between a first USB mode and a second USB mode;wherein: the generating a control signal includes processing information associated with the first supply voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage;if the first supply voltage is higher than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a first logic state;if the first supply voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold voltage, the control signal represents a second logic state;wherein the switching between a first USB mode and a second USB mode includes: switching from the first USB mode to the second USB mode if the control signal changes from representing the first logic state to representing the second logic state;switching from the second USB mode to the first USB mode if the control signal changes from representing the second logic state to representing the first logic state;wherein: the first USB mode is associated with a first power consumption level;the second USB mode is associated with a second power consumption level;the first power consumption level and the second power consumption level are different.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first power consumption level is higher than the second power consumption level.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein: the first USB mode is associated with USB 2.0;the second USB mode is associated with USB 1.1.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the first supply voltage is a DC voltage.

19. The method of claim 15, and further comprising: generating the first supply voltage at a first voltage level if the first supply voltage is converted from an AC voltage;generating the first supply voltage at a second voltage level if the first supply voltage is directly supplied by a battery, or is converted from a DC voltage supplied by the battery.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first voltage level is higher than the second voltage level.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein: the first logic state is associated with a logic high level;the second logic state is associated with a logic low level.