Programmable voltage regulator
AssigneeAltera Corporation
InventorsRichard Cliff, Robert Bielby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to programmable voltage regulator that programmably provides a desired operating voltage to a power pin based upon operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator includes an operating voltage configuration data decoder arranged to decode the operating voltage configuration data. The programmable voltage regulator also includes a programmable voltage down converter connected to the operating voltage configuration data decoder. The programmable voltage down converter uses the decoded operating voltage configuration data to convert the first voltage to the desired operating voltage which is then output to the power pin.
Claims20
A method for selectively providing a desired operating voltage based upon operating voltage configuration data, comprising:
- providing an operating voltage decoder arranged to receive and decode selected operating voltage configuration data;
- and
- coupling a programmable voltage down converter to the operating voltage decoder arranged to programmably generate the desired operating voltage at an output line based upon the decoded operating voltage configuration data.
A system arranged to provide a desired operating voltage to a programmable integrated circuit connected thereto based upon operating voltage configuration data, comprising:
- a memory array arranged to store programmable integrated circuit (PIC) configuration data used by the programmable integrated circuit to fit a desired logic function, a desired memory function, or a desired logic-memory function,
- a configuration bit stream bus arranged to pass the PIC configuration data from the configuration memory to the programmable integrated circuit
- a power supply bus connecting the system to the programmable integrated circuit arranged to pass the desired operating voltage to the programmable integrated circuit;
- an operating voltage configuration data buffer arranged to store the operating voltage configuration data connected to the memory array;
- an operating voltage decoder connected to the operating voltage configuration data buffer arranged to decode the operating voltage configuration data to form decoded operating voltage configuration data;
- a select enable line connected to the operating voltage decoder arranged to pass a decoder enable signal;
- and
- a programmable voltage down converter (VDC) connected to the operating voltage decoder, the programmable VDC having a VDC input line connected to a first voltage supply and a VDC output line connected to the power supply bus, the programmable VDC being arranged to receive a first voltage at the VDC input line and programmably convert the first voltage to the desired operating voltage at an output line based upon the decoded operating voltage configuration data.
A method of programmably providing a selected supply voltage to an integrated circuit, comprising:
- receiving supply voltage configuration data;
- decoding the supply voltage configuration data;
- converting a first supply voltage to the selected supply voltage based upon the decoded supply voltage configuration data;
- and
- outputting the selected supply voltage to the integrated circuit.
An apparatus for selectively providing a desired operating voltage based upon operating voltage configuration data, comprising:
- a means for providing an operating voltage decoder arranged to receive and decode selected operating voltage configuration data;
- and
- a means for coupling a programmable voltage down converter to the operating voltage decoder arranged to programmably generate the desired operating voltage at an output line based upon the decoded operating voltage configuration data.
An apparatus for programmably providing a selected supply voltage to an integrated circuit, comprising:
- a means for receiving supply voltage configuration data;
- a means for decoding the supply voltage configuration data;
- a means for converting a first supply voltage to the selected supply voltage based upon the decoded supply voltage configuration data;
- and
- a means for outputting the selected supply voltage to the integrated circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.