US 12,181,942 B2 · Apparatus and method for real-time clock module of system-on-chip

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for a real-time clock (RTC) module of a system-on-chip (SoC), and provides an apparatus for powering battery-powered RTC module of an SoC. The apparatus is integrated in the RTC module and comprises: a first regulator stage comprising one or more regulators, wherein the first regulator stage is configured to provide a core power supply voltage (VDD_CORE) on the basis of battery output voltage (VDD_BAT); and a crystal oscillator I/O unit, the crystal oscillator I/O unit being powered by the core power supply voltage (VDD_CORE) and an I/O power supply voltage (VDD_IO), wherein the apparatus directly provides the battery output voltage (VDD_BAT) as the I/O power supply voltage (VDD_IO).

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for supplying power to a real time clock (RTC) module of a system on chip (SoC), wherein the RTC module is powered by a battery, and the apparatus is integrated into the RTC module and comprises:

a first regulator stage, comprising one or more regulators, wherein the first regulator stage is configured to provide a core power supply voltage VDD_CORE based on a battery output voltage VDD_BAT;
and
a crystal oscillator I/O unit, the crystal oscillator I/O unit being powered by the core power supply voltage VDD_CORE and an I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO,
wherein the apparatus directly provides the battery output voltage VDD_BAT as the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO.

1 more element

A method for supplying power to a real time clock (RTC) module of a system on chip (SoC), wherein the RTC module is powered by a battery, and the method comprises:

in a case that a range of a battery output voltage VDD_BAT is within a range of an I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO, directly providing the battery output voltage VDD_BAT as the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO, and converting the battery output voltage VDD_BAT into a core power supply voltage VDD_CORE by using a first regulator stage that is in the RTC module and comprises one or more regulators;
and
in a case that the range of the battery output voltage VDD_BAT goes beyond the range of the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO:
converting the battery output voltage VDD_BAT into the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO by using a second regulator stage that is in the RTC module and coupled in series to the first regulator stage and comprises one or more regulators, and converting the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO provided by the second regulator stage into the core power supply voltage VDD_CORE by using the first regulator stage;
or
converting the battery output voltage VDD_BAT into the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO by using a second regulator stage that is in the RTC module and coupled in parallel to the first regulator stage and comprises one or more regulators, and converting the battery output voltage VDD_BAT into the core power supply voltage VDD_CORE by using the first regulator stage,
wherein the core power supply voltage VDD_CORE and the I/O power supply voltage VDD_IO are used for supplying power to the crystal oscillator I/O unit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/709,225Filed 15 Dec 2022

Priority

CN 202210020171.510 Jan 2022

Published

US 2024/0329710 A13 Oct 2024

Granted

31 Dec 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 1/305
Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations: in the event of power-supply fluctuations
G06F 1/08
Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom: clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
G06F 1/14
Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom: time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
G06F 1/26
Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00: power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof

Apparatus and method for real-time clock module of system-on-chip

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for real-time clock module of system-on-chip

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20