AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WAKING UP A PROCESSOR

摘要

An apparatus and method for waking up a main processor (MP) in a low power or ultra low power device preferably includes the MP and a sub processor (SP) that utilizes less power than the MP to monitor ambient conditions than the MP and may be internalized in the MP. The MP and SP can remain in a sleep mode while an interrupt sensor monitors for changes in the ambient environment. A sensor is preferably an interrupt type sensor as opposed to polling type sensors conventionally used to detect ambient changes. The MP and SP may remain in sleep mode as a low power or an ultra low power interrupt sensor operates with the SP being in sleep mode and awakens the SP via an interrupt indicating a detected change. The SP then wakes the MP after comparing data from the interrupt sensor with values in storage or with another sensor.