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US 11,237,578 B2Granted
Intelligent voltage regulator
AssigneeTamiras Per Pte. Ltd., LLC
InventorDavid G. Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voltage regulator includes a programming interface via which programming instructions may be applied to a processor of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator operates the processor according to the programming instructions to select one of multiple active internally-generated analog voltage levels to determine an output voltage level of the voltage regulator.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage regulator having an interface;
- and
- one or more devices coupled to the voltage regulator via the interface, the one or more devices including a device regulated by the voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to obtain monitoring information derived from monitoring an operating characteristic associated with the device regulated by the voltage regulator, the monitored operating characteristic indicative of a state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator includes:
- a variable voltage generator configured to receive an input voltage and to generate an output voltage selected from a plurality of output voltages based at least in part on a selection signal corresponding to the state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator, wherein the selected output voltage is based at least in part on the monitored operating characteristic;
- and
- a processor configured to execute instructions, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain one or more fault signals via an input of the interface and to provide the selection signal to the variable voltage generator based at least in part on the one or more fault signals to cause the variable voltage generator to generate the selected output voltage in accordance with the state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator to decrease the likelihood of faults;
- wherein the voltage regulator is further configured to deliver the selected output voltage through the interface.
4 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a bus;
- and
- a voltage regulator having an interface with an input coupled to the bus, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to obtain monitoring information derived from monitoring an operating characteristic associated with a device regulated by the voltage regulator, the monitored operating characteristic indicative of a state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator, the voltage regulator including:
- a variable voltage generator configured to receive an input voltage and to generate an output voltage selected from a plurality of output voltages based at least in part on a selection signal corresponding to the state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator, wherein the selected output voltage is based at least in part on the operating characteristic;
- and
- a processor configured to execute instructions, wherein the processor is configured to obtain one or more fault signals received over the input and via the bus and to provide the selection signal to the variable voltage generator based at least in part on the one or more fault signals to cause the variable voltage generator to generate the selected output voltage in accordance with the state of the device regulated by the voltage regulator to decrease the likelihood of faults.
3 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a bus;
- a central processing unit (CPU) attached to the bus;
- and
- a voltage regulator having an interface with an input attached to the bus, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to generate a selected output voltage to power the CPU, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to monitor an operating characteristic associated with the CPU, the monitored operating characteristic indicative of a state of the CPU, and wherein the voltage regulator includes:
- a variable voltage generator configured to receive an input voltage and to generate the output voltage selected from a plurality of output voltages based at least in part on a selection signal corresponding to the state of the CPU, wherein the selected output voltage is based at least in part on the operating characteristic;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- communicate directly with the CPU using one or more digital signals transmitted over the bus to obtain fault signals;
- and
- provide the selection signal to the variable voltage generator based at least in part on the one or more digital signals to cause the variable voltage generator to generate the selected output voltage in accordance with the state of the CPU to decrease the likelihood of faults.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.