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US 11,387,733 B2Granted
Rapid discharge of power nodes
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsShawn Searles, Fabio Gozzini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for rapid discharge of power rails is disclosed. A circuit includes a power converter circuit includes an inductor coupled between a switch node and regulated power supply node. A first device is coupled between an input power supply node and the switch node, while a second device is coupled between the switch node and a ground node. The power converter is configured to generate a particular voltage level on the regulated power supply node by controlling the first and second devices. The circuit also includes a control circuit which, in response to receiving a discharge comment, repeatedly activates and deactivates the second device to discharge, via the switch node and the inductor, the regulated power supply node.
Claims20
A circuit comprising:
- a power converter circuit including a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor, a first device coupled between an input power supply node and the switch node, and a second device coupled between the switch node and a ground node, wherein the power converter circuit is configured to generate a particular voltage level on the regulated power supply node, the particular voltage level being within a range between a first voltage and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage;
- and
- a control circuit configured to, in response to receiving a discharge command:
- reduce the particular voltage level to the second voltage by changing respective duty cycles of the first and second devices;
- and
- begin, in response to the particular voltage level reaching the second voltage, repeatedly activating and deactivating the second device to discharge the regulated power supply node from the second voltage to a target voltage;
- wherein control circuit is configured to cause the first device to remain inactive during the repeatedly activating and deactivating the second device.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing, using a power converter and on a regulated supply voltage node, an output voltage on to a load circuit, wherein providing the output voltage comprises the power converter operating first and second devices, the first device being coupled between a switching node and an input power supply node and the second device coupled between the switching node and a ground node, and further comprises providing the output voltage within a specified range of voltages between a minimum specified voltage and a maximum specified voltage;
- receiving, at a control circuit, a discharge command;
- discharging the regulated supply voltage node, in response to receiving the discharge command, to a voltage less than or equal to a target voltage level, wherein the discharging comprises:
- reducing the output voltage to the minimum specified voltage in response to the control circuit receiving the discharge command, wherein reducing the output voltage comprises changing respective duty cycles of the first and second devices;
- and
- beginning the discharging of the regulated supply voltage node in response to the output voltage reaching the minimum specified voltage, wherein discharging further comprises the control circuit repeatedly activating and deactivating the second device to cause a discharge of the regulated supply voltage node via the switching node and further comprises the control circuit causing the first device to remain inactive during the repeatedly activating and deactivating the second device.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a load circuit coupled to receive a regulated supply voltage on a regulated supply voltage node;
- a power converter configured to generate the regulated supply voltage, wherein the power converter includes:
- a first transistor coupled between a switching node and an input supply voltage node;
- a second transistor coupled between the switching node and a ground node;
- and
- an inductor coupled between the switching node and an output node, wherein the regulated supply voltage is provided on the output node;
- a power management circuit configured to generate a command indicating that the load circuit is to be powered down;
- and
- a control circuit configured, in response to receiving the command, cause discharging of the output node, via the switching node and the inductor, wherein, in causing discharging of the output node, the control circuit is configured to:
- cause a reduction of the output voltage to the minimum specified voltage, wherein reducing the output voltage comprises changing respective duty cycles of the first and second devices;
- cause, in response to the output voltage reaching the minimum specified voltage, repeatedly activating and deactivating the second transistor to discharge the regulated supply voltage node to a voltage less than or equal to target voltage;
- and
- cause the first device to remain inactive during the repeatedly activating and deactivating the second device.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.