Using linked-lists to create feature rich finite-state machines in integrated circuits

A power supply management system, the system comprising:

• a plurality of power supplies, wherein a power supply provides a supply voltage rail to a voltage domain of the system;
• an integrated circuit including sequencer circuitry electrically coupled to the plurality of power supplies;
• and
• a memory integral to or operatively coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein at least a portion of the memory is organized as a plurality of hierarchical linked lists defining a finite state machine including a plurality of finite IC states;
• wherein the hierarchical linked lists include one or more pointers to identify one or more control words in the hierarchical linked lists associated with an IC state, and the sequencer circuitry is configured to:
• receive the one or more control words from the hierarchical linked lists;
• advance the IC to the IC state according to the one or more control words;
• and perform one or more actions corresponding to the IC state to coordinate activation and deactivation of the power supplies.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when performed by processing circuitry of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform acts comprising:

• implementing a graphical user interface (GUI) on the computing device;
• receiving power supply voltage sequencer information via the GUI;
• and
• configuring, using the power supply voltage sequencer information, a finite state machine as a plurality of hierarchical linked lists stored in a memory, wherein the finite state machine includes a plurality of device states of a power sequencer device that determine an order of activation of a plurality of power supplies, and the hierarchical linked lists include one or more pointers to identify, one or more control words in the hierarchical linked lists associated with the device states.