Apparatus and methods for low power sensing of communication access technologies

摘要

Apparatus and methods for low power sensing of wireless access technologies are disclosed. In particular, a mobile wireless device, such as an access terminal, may utilize a lower power circuitry portion that operates at a lower power than active circuitry, such as a primary transceiver. The lower power circuitry portion includes a configurable searcher that is capable of sensing if signals of one or more various wireless access technologies are present. When the wireless device utilizes sleep or idle modes for power savings, use of the lower power sensing circuitry to sense the presence of wireless access technologies, rather than using an awoken higher power primary transceiver for sensing, affords increased power savings. An added ability of the lower power circuitry to be put into sleep or idles modes achieves even greater power savings.

主权项

1. An apparatus for use in a mobile device that supports multiple wireless access technologies comprising:
a first circuitry portion operable at a first power level, wherein the first circuitry portion includes at least one configurable searcher that is operable to search for all wireless access technologies supported by the mobile device; and a second circuitry portion that is coupled to the first circuitry portion and configured to operate at a power level higher than the first power level of the first circuitry portion in the mobile device, wherein the second circuitry portion includes a receiver that decodes signals of all wireless access technologies supported by the mobile device; wherein the at least one configurable searcher produces a trigger signal when a signal of any of the wireless access technologies is sensed during said searching, and wherein the trigger signal transitions the second circuitry portion from a power-saving state to said higher power level to decode the sensed signal.