Patent ID: 8045049
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A signal processor configured to process a first signal to generate a second signal, and to provide the second signal to an external device, the second signal having a format, the signal processor comprising: a regulator configured to receive first voltage and to generate a regulated voltage, wherein the regulated voltage is less than the first voltage; an analog processing circuit configured to operate with the first voltage, wherein the analog processing circuit is configured to perform analog signal processing on the first signal to generate a processed first signal; a digital processing circuit configured to operate with the regulated voltage, wherein the digital processing circuit is configured to perform digital signal processing on a digital signal that corresponds to the processed first signal to generate the second signal; and an output circuit configured to operate with the first voltage, wherein the output circuit is configured to receive the second signal from the digital processing circuit and to provide the second signal to a communication path to the external device; wherein the signal processor is on a chip semiconductor substrate; and wherein the regulator is configured to stop generating the regulated voltage in response to a control signal sent from a processing unit in correspondence with the digital processing circuit stopping performing the digital signal processing.