TWI788759B - Docking station for power management - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides a docking station for power management, including an integrated circuit electrically, a first signal IO port, a network interface controller and a first controller. The first signal IO port connects a host controller of a host. When the host enters the sleep mode or standby mode, the network interface controller is disconnected or there is no network packet transmission, the integrated circuit cuts off the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal IO port, so that the host enters the deepest sleep state. When the network interface controller receives a LAN wake-up signal, the network interface controller informs the first controller through the function pin, and the first controller generates a sideband signal to transmit to the host controller through the first signal IO port to wake up the host controller. The network interface controller responds to the LAN wake-up signal to re-establishes the signal connection with the integrated circuit and the first signal IO port.

Description

Docking station for power management

This case relates to a docking station, and more particularly to a docking station for power management.

The standard expansion base can provide multiple expandable connection ports for a host computer (such as a notebook computer) to provide expansion equipment such as a screen, mouse, keyboard, network card, etc., and the expansion base also has a power supply The adapter is electrically connected to the mains to supply power to the host computer and the expansion device. Among them, in order to maintain lower power consumption, it is necessary to allow the host controller (host controller) of the host computer to enter the deepest sleep state when it is not in use, hereinafter referred to as the D3 cold (D3 cold) state. The prerequisite for the main controller of the host computer to enter the D3 cold state is that all expansion devices connected to the downlink ports must be able to enter the D3 cold state. As long as one of the devices cannot enter the D3 cold state, the entire main controller will be disabled. It is impossible to enter the D3 cold state and increase power consumption. Generally speaking, the expansion device on the expansion base that cannot enter the D3 cold state is usually a USB network card (NIC) that provides a wired network. In order to keep receiving Wake on LAN (WOL), the USB network Luca can only enter the low power state of D2 and cannot enter the cold state of D3.

In view of this, this project proposes an expansion base for power management, suitable for electrically connecting a host, the host includes a main controller, the expansion base includes an integrated circuit, a first signal input and output port, a network road interface controller and a first controller. The first signal input and output port is electrically connected to the integrated circuit and provides a connection to the main controller, so that the main controller performs signal transmission with the integrated circuit through the first signal input and output port. The network interface controller is electrically connected to the integrated circuit for providing connection to an external network. The network interface controller has at least one functional pin. The first controller is electrically connected to the function pin and the first signal input and output port, and the first controller establishes a transmission channel with the host through the first signal input and output port. Wherein, when the host starts the sleep mode or the standby mode, the network interface controller is disconnected or there is no network packet transmission, the integrated circuit cuts off the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port, Make the main controller enter the deepest sleep state; and when the network interface controller receives a wake-on-lan signal from the external network, the network interface controller notifies the first controller through the function pin, and the first controller A sideband signal is generated and sent to the main controller through the transmission channel to wake up the main controller, and the network interface controller responds to the network wake-up signal to re-establish the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port .

According to some embodiments, when the host is plugged into the first signal input and output port, the integrated circuit will configure and store a related wake configuration (wake configuration) for use by the host; and when the network interface controller detects By the time the host is disconnected, the IC removes the wake-up configuration.

According to some embodiments, when the main controller is woken up first, the main controller sends a recovery signal to the first controller through the transmission channel, and the first controller notifies the network interface controller through the function pin, so that the network interface control The device responds to the recovery signal to re-establish the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port.

According to some embodiments, the function pins further include a wake-up pin and a recovery pin, so that the network interface controller notifies the first controller through the wake-up pin, and the first controller notifies the network interface control through the recovery pin device.

According to some embodiments, the first signal input and output port is a USB connector or a thunderbolt connector.

According to some embodiments, the host further includes a second controller electrically connected to the main controller to establish a transmission channel using the second controller, the first signal input/output port, and the first controller.

According to some embodiments, when the first signal input and output port is the USB connector, the first controller and the second controller are respectively a power transmission controller.

According to some embodiments, the aforementioned integrated circuit is integrated in a network interface controller.

To sum up, in order to cope with the increasingly high power consumption and performance requirements of tablets and notebook computers, the corresponding expansion base must also move towards the goal of lower power consumption, and the expansion base proposed in this case allows the host The main controller can enter the deepest sleep state (D3 cold state), and at the same time support the function of wake-up from LAN, so as to achieve the purpose of maximizing power saving.

The expansion base provided in this case is suitable for electrically connecting the main controller of a host, and through the expansion base, the main controller is connected to a plurality of expansion devices, so that all expansion devices connected to the expansion base can support access D3 cold state, so that the main controller can enter the most power-saving D3 cold state.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base according to an embodiment of the present case. Please refer to FIG. 1. An expansion base 10 for power management is suitable for electrically connecting a host 30. Body circuit 12 , a first signal input and output port 14 , a plurality of second signal input and output ports 16 , a network interface controller 18 and a first controller 20 . In this embodiment, three second signal input and output ports 16 are taken as an example, but this case is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the docking station 10 further includes a power adapter 22, which is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 12 and connected to an external mains power, so as to provide power to the integrated circuit 12 and all internal components, as well as to provide power to the integrated circuit 12. The power supply of the host 30 or the second signal input and output port 16 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the host 30 further includes a main controller 32 and a second controller 34, and the main controller 32 is electrically connected to the second controller 34, and the first signal input and output port 14 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit. 12 and provide a connection to the main controller 32 of the host computer 30, so that the main controller 32 performs signal transmission with the integrated circuit 12 through the first signal input and output port 14. The second signal input and output port 16 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 12 to provide connection to multiple expansion devices. The network interface controller 18 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 12 for providing connection to an external network 36 , and the network interface controller 18 has at least one functional pin 24 . The first controller 20 is electrically connected to the function pin 24 and the first signal input and output port 14, and the first controller 20 is connected to the second controller 34 of the host 30 through the first signal input and output port 14, so as to utilize the first signal input and output port 14. A controller 20 , the first signal input and output port 14 , and the second controller 34 establish a transmission channel 26 . To enable the main controller 32 to enter the deepest sleep state and maintain the Wake-on-Lan support function of the docking station 10, the support of a sideband signal is required. This sideband signal is responsible for the network interface controller 18. The role transferred when receiving a wake-on-lan signal, and the first controller 20 is responsible for waking up the main controller 32 of the host 30 .

Please also refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , when the host 30 starts the sleep mode or standby mode, the network interface controller 18 is disconnected or there is no network packet transmission, the integrated circuit 12 will cut off the integrated circuit 12 and The signal connection between the first signal input and output ports 14 makes the main controller 32 of the host computer 30 enter the deepest sleep state, that is, the D3 cold state. When the network interface controller 18 receives a wake-on-lan signal from the external network 36, the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20 through the function pin 24, and the first controller 20 generates a sideband signal via The transmission channel 26 is sent to the main controller 32 to wake up the main controller 32. At the same time, the network interface controller 18 responds to the network wake-up signal to re-establish the connection between the integrated circuit 12 and the first signal input and output port 14. Signal connection.

In one embodiment, the host 30 can be a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal computer, etc., but not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the first signal input and output port 14 is a USB connector or a thunderbolt connector.

In one embodiment, when the first signal input and output port 14 is a USB connector, the main controller 32 is a USB host controller (USB host controller), and the first controller 20 and the second controller 34 are respectively a Power transmission controller (PD controller), so the transmission channel 26 established by the first controller 20, the first signal input and output port 14 and the second controller 34 is different from the general signal transmission channel, even in the sleep mode (including D3 cold state) or standby mode, it can still maintain the signal transmission function with low power consumption. In addition, re-establishing the signal connection between the integrated circuit 12 and the first signal input/output port 14 is generally called USB enumeration. 3, the logic circuit 40 in the integrated circuit 12 basically includes a micro control unit (MCU) 42, a media access control (mac) layer 44, a network physical layer 46, and a USB physical layer 48, and the media access control layer 44 includes a network control layer 441 and a USB protocol layer 442, and a front-end uninterruptible power unit (afe-ups) 461 is provided in the network physical layer 46 to detect whether it is inserted into the network Connector. Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3 at the same time. The micro-control unit 42 will determine whether the host computer 30 (main controller 32) starts the sleep mode or the standby mode, and whether the network interface controller 18 is disconnected or whether there is a packet transmission. When the host computer 30 enters into sleep mode or standby mode, the network interface controller 18 is disconnected or there is no packet transmission, etc., the microcontroller unit 42 will cut off the power supply to the USB physical layer 48 to cut off the integrated circuit 12 and the USB physical layer 48. The signal connection between the first signal input and output port 14 makes the host computer 30 unable to recognize the network interface controller 18 and thinks that the first signal input and output port 14 is not connected to an expansion device, and then connects the entire main controller 32 together with the expansion base. The socket 10 and the expansion equipment connected to it all enter the D3 cold state to achieve the purpose of maximizing power saving. When the network interface controller 18 receives a wake-on-lan signal from the external network 36, the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20 through the function pin 24, and the first controller 20 generates a sideband signal and transmits the The channel 26 is sent to the main controller 32 to wake up the main controller 32. At this time, the network interface controller 18 responds to the network wake-up signal to drive the integrated circuit 12, so that the micro control unit 42 resumes power supply to the USB physical layer accordingly. 48 , and complete a standard USB new device insertion process (USB enumeration) to re-establish the signal connection between the integrated circuit 12 and the first signal input and output port 14 .

In one embodiment, the second signal input and output port 16 can be a standard video port connector, a high definition multimedia interface (High Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI) connector, a video graphics array (Video Graphics Array, VGA ) connector, an audio output connector or any combination of at least one USB connector. Among them, the standard video port connector is a standardized DisplayPort (DP) digital video port, which is used to connect with expansion devices such as displays, and also supports the transmission of audio and other forms of data; and sound transmission interface, and can transmit uncompressed audio and video signals; the VGA connector is a traditional analog signal computer display standard, through which the VGA connector can be effectively connected to a display using the VGA connector; the audio output connection The USB connector can output sound and audio; the USB connector provides the expansion base 10 to connect more external expansion devices to expand the functions of the host computer 30 connected to the expansion base 10, and the USB connector can provide USB2.0 or above It can be a type A (type A) USB connector, a type B (type B) USB connector or a type C (type C) USB connector.

In one embodiment, the external network 36 is a wired network or a wireless network. When the network interface controller 18 is a wired network interface controller, the network interface controller 18 can be connected to the wired network as the external network 36 through an RJ45 connector to provide a stable and high-bandwidth wired network . On the other hand, when the network interface controller 18 is a wireless network interface controller, the network interface controller 18 is connected to the wireless network as the external network 36 to provide a convenient wireless network.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , since the expansion base 10 has plugging and unplugging behaviors, that is, when the host 30 is plugged into the first signal input and output port 14 , the integrated circuit 12 will configure and store the relevant wake-up configuration. However, when the host 30 is unplugged and another host (not shown in the figure) is plugged into the expansion base 10 , it may happen that the subsequent wake-up on LAN signal accidentally wakes up the other host. In order to avoid this false wake-up behavior, this case can be achieved through cooperation with the existing plug-in detection support of the network interface controller 18 (eg, USB network interface controller). Specifically, when a host 30 is plugged into the first signal input and output port 14, the integrated circuit 12 will configure and store a relevant wake-up configuration for use by the host controller 32; When 18 detects that the host 30 is disconnected, the integrated circuit 12 removes the original wake-up configuration for subsequent resetting, thereby avoiding false wake-up behaviors.

Please refer to FIG. 1, if the main controller 32 of the host computer 30 is first actively woken up before receiving the Wake-on-LAN signal, the main controller 32 will pass through the transmission channel 26 (through the second controller 34 in sequence) , the first signal input and output port 14 and the first controller 20) send a recovery signal to the first controller 20, and the first controller 20 notifies the network interface controller 18 through the function pin 24, so that the network interface control The device 18 re-establishes the signal connection between the integrated circuit 12 and the first signal input and output port 14 in response to the recovery signal. Wherein, whether the first controller 20 notifies the network interface controller 18 or the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20, the transmission is performed through the functional pin 24 of the same channel.

In another embodiment, the first controller 20 notifies the network interface controller 18 and the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20 that transmission can also be performed through functional pins 24 of different channels, please refer to FIG. 4 As shown, the function pin 24 further includes a wake-up pin 241 and a recovery pin 242. The network interface controller 18 uses the wake-up pin 241 to electrically connect the first controller 20, and the network interface controller 18 receives When receiving a wake-up signal from the external network 36 , the network interface controller 18 can notify the first controller 20 through the wake-up pin 241 . The first controller 20 uses the recovery pin 242 to electrically connect the network interface controller 18. When the main controller 32 wakes up and sends a recovery signal to the first controller 20 through the transmission channel 26, the first controller 20 can pass through The recovery pin 242 notifies the network interface controller 18 to use its own channel for signal transmission.

In one embodiment, the integrated circuit 12 can be directly integrated into the network interface controller 18. Please refer to FIG. The first controller 20 and the network interface controller 18 integrate an integrated circuit 12 , and the network interface controller 18 has at least one functional pin 24 . Since the integrated circuit 12 is built in the network interface controller 18 , the original electronic circuit in the network interface controller 18 is also electrically connected to the integrated circuit 12 . The first signal input and output port 14 is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 12 in the network interface controller 18, and the first controller 20 is electrically connected to the function pin 24 and the first signal input and output port 14 to input through the first signal The output port 14 is signal-connected to the second controller 34 of the host 30 , and uses the first controller 20 , the first signal input and output port 14 , and the second controller 34 to establish a transmission channel 26 .

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 at the same time. When the host 30 starts the sleep mode or standby mode, the network interface controller 18 is disconnected or there is no network packet transmission, the integrated circuit 12 in the network interface controller 18 The signal connection between the network interface controller 18 (integrated circuit 12 ) and the first signal input and output port 14 will be cut off, so that the main controller 32 enters the deepest sleep state, that is, the D3 cold state. When the network interface controller 18 receives a wake-on-lan signal from the external network 36, the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20 through the function pin 24, and the first controller 20 generates a sideband signal via The transmission channel 26 is sent to the main controller 32 to wake up the main controller 32. At the same time, the network interface controller 18 responds to the network wake-up signal to make the integrated circuit 12 re-establish the network interface controller 18 (integrated circuit 12 ) and the signal connection between the first signal input and output port 14 .

Please refer to Fig. 5, if the main controller 32 of the host computer 30 is first actively awakened, the main controller 32 will pass through the transmission channel 26 (through the second controller 34, the first signal input and output port 14 and the first The controller 20) sends a recovery signal to the first controller 20 to notify the network interface controller 18 through the function pin 24, so that the network interface controller 18 responds to the recovery signal to re-establish the integrated circuit 12 with the first The signal connection between the signal input and output ports 14 .

In addition to transmitting through the function pin 24 of the same channel, the first controller 20 notifies the network interface controller 18 and the network interface controller 18 notifies the first controller 20 can also transmit through the function pins of different channels. 24 for transmission, as shown in FIG. 7, this function pin 24 includes a wake-up pin 241 and a recovery pin 242, and the network interface controller 18 uses the wake-up pin 241 to electrically connect the first controller 20, in the network When the LAN interface controller 18 receives a wake-up signal from the external network 36 , the network interface controller 18 can notify the first controller 20 through the wake-up pin 241 . The first controller 20 uses the recovery pin 242 to electrically connect the network interface controller 18. When the main controller 32 wakes up and sends a recovery signal to the first controller 20 through the transmission channel 26, the first controller 20 can pass through The recovery pin 242 notifies the network interface controller 18 to use its own channel for signal transmission.

Therefore, the expansion base proposed in this case can effectively manage the power supply, allowing the main controller of the host computer to enter the deepest sleep state (D3 cold state), and at the same time support the function of wake-up from LAN, so as to achieve the purpose of maximizing power saving.

The above-mentioned embodiments are only to illustrate the technical ideas and characteristics of this case. Equivalent changes or modifications made to the disclosed spirit should still be covered by the patent scope of this case.

10: Expansion base 12: Integrated circuit 14: The first signal input and output port 16: The second signal input and output port 18: Network interface controller 20: First controller 22: Power adapter 24: Function pin 241: Wake up pin 242: Recovery pin 26: Transmission channel 30: Host 32: Main controller 34: Second controller 36: External network 40: Logic circuit 42: Micro control unit 44: Media Access Control Layer 441: Network control layer 442:USB protocol layer 46: Network physical layer 461: front uninterruptible power supply unit 48: USB physical layer

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base for cutting off a signal connection according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a logic circuit in an integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base for cutting off signal connections according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an expansion base according to yet another embodiment of the present application.

10: Expansion base

12: Integrated circuit

14: The first signal input and output port

16: The second signal input and output port

18: Network interface controller

20: First controller

22: Power adapter

24: Function pin

26: Transmission channel

30: Host

32: Main controller

34: Second controller

36: External network

Claims (9)

An expansion base for power management, suitable for electrical connection with a host, the host includes a main controller, the expansion base includes: an integrated circuit; a first signal input and output port, electrically connected to the product The main controller is connected to the main controller so that the main controller can transmit signals with the integrated circuit through the first signal input and output port; a network interface controller is electrically connected to the integrated circuit to provide connected to an external network, the network interface controller has at least one functional pin; and a first controller, electrically connected to the functional pin and the first signal input and output port, the first controller is through The first signal input and output port establishes a transmission channel with the host; wherein, when the host starts sleep mode or standby mode, the network interface controller is disconnected or there is no network packet transmission, the integrated circuit cuts off the The signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port makes the main controller enter the deepest sleep state; and when the network interface controller receives a wake-on-lan signal from the external network When, the network interface controller notifies the first controller through the function pin, the first controller generates a sideband signal and transmits it to the main controller through the transmission channel to wake up the main controller, and the network The road interface controller responds to the wake-up signal to re-establish the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port; wherein, when the host is plugged into the first signal input and output port , the integrated circuit configures and stores a related wake-up configuration for use by the host controller; and when the network interface controller detects that the host is disconnected, the integrated circuit removes the wake-up group state. The expansion base for power management as described in claim 1, wherein when the main controller is woken up first, the main controller sends a recovery signal to the first controller through the transmission channel, and the first controller The device notifies the network interface controller through the function pin, so that the network interface controller responds to the recovery signal to re-establish the signal connection between the integrated circuit and the first signal input and output port. The expansion base for power management as described in claim 1 or 2 further includes a plurality of second signal input and output ports electrically connected to the integrated circuit. The expansion base for power management as described in claim 2, wherein the function pin further includes a wake-up pin and a recovery pin, so that the network interface controller notifies the first controller through the wake-up pin device, and the first controller notifies the network interface controller through the recovery pin. The expansion base for power management according to claim 2, wherein the first signal input and output port is a USB connector or a thunderbolt (thunderbolt) connector. The expansion base for power management according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the integrated circuit is integrated in the network interface controller. The docking station for power management as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deepest sleep state is a D3 cold state. In the expansion base for power management according to claim 1, wherein the external network is a wired network or a wireless network. The docking station for power management as described in Claim 1 further includes a power adapter electrically connected to the integrated circuit to provide power.

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