Programmable power supply for field programmable gate array modules

An electronic system comprising:

• a module connector comprising a first programmable voltage line, second programmable voltage line, and at least one power control signal line;
• a first programmable voltage supply, coupled to the first programmable voltage line of the module connector, wherein based on a signal on the power control signal line, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the first programmable voltage line;
• and
• a second programmable voltage supply, coupled to the second programmable voltage line of the module connector, wherein based on a signal on the power control signal line, the second programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the second programmable voltage line.

An electronic system comprising:

• a first module connector comprising a first programmable voltage line, second programmable voltage line, and first power control signal line;
• a first power supply unit comprising:
• a first programmable voltage supply, coupled to the first programmable voltage line of the first module connector, wherein based on a signal on the first power control signal line, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the first programmable voltage line;
• and
• a second programmable voltage supply, coupled to the second programmable voltage line of the first module connector, wherein based on a signal on the first power control signal line, the second programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the second programmable voltage line;
• a second module connector comprising a third programmable voltage line, fourth programmable voltage line, and second power control signal line;
• and
• a second power supply unit comprising:
• a third programmable voltage supply, coupled to the third programmable voltage line of the second module connector, wherein based on a signal on the second power control signal line, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the third programmable voltage line;
• and
• a fourth programmable voltage supply, coupled to the fourth programmable voltage line of the second module connector, wherein based on a signal on the second power control signal line, the second programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the fourth programmable voltage line.

An electronic system comprising:

• an integrated circuit connector comprising a first programmable voltage line, second programmable voltage line, and power control signal line, wherein an integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit connector will be electrically coupled to receive voltages from the first and second programmable voltage lines;
• a first programmable voltage supply, coupled to the first programmable voltage line of the integrated circuit connector, wherein based on a signal received at a first control input of the first programmable voltage supply, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the first programmable voltage line;
• a second programmable voltage supply, coupled to the second programmable voltage line of the module connector, wherein based on a signal received at a second control input of the second programmable voltage supply, the second programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the second programmable voltage line;
• and
• a power controller block, coupled to the power control signal line of the integrated circuit connector, wherein based on a signal received from the integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit connector on the power control signal line, the power controller block generates signals for the first and second control inputs.

An electronic module comprising:

• a connector to couple to an electronic system board, wherein the connector comprises a supply voltage line and ground supply voltage line to couple to voltage sources provided by electronic system board;
• an integrated circuit coupled to a first programmable voltage line, second programmable voltage line, and power control signal line;
• a first programmable voltage supply, coupled to the supply voltage line, ground supply voltage line, and the first programmable voltage line of the integrated circuit, wherein based on a signal received at a first control input of the first programmable voltage supply, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the first programmable voltage line;
• a second programmable voltage supply, coupled to the supply voltage line, ground supply voltage line, and the second programmable voltage line of the module connector, wherein based on a signal received at a second control input of the second programmable voltage supply, the second programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the second programmable voltage line;
• and
• a power controller block, coupled to the supply voltage line, ground supply voltage line, and power control signal line of the integrated circuit connector, wherein based on a signal received from the integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit connector on the power control signal line, the power controller block generates signals for the first and second control inputs.

A method of operating an electronic system having an integrated circuit requiring a plurality of operating voltages comprising:

• providing a signal from the integrated circuit to power controller circuitry;
• decoding the signal using the power controller circuitry and generating first and second control signals;
• receiving the first control signal in a first programmable voltage generator, which generates a first voltage;
• receiving the second control signal in a second programmable voltage generator, which generates a second voltage, different from the first voltage;
• and
• providing the first and second voltages to the integrated circuit.

A method of operating an electronic system comprising:

• providing a first module, having a master integrated circuit, coupled to the electronic system;
• providing a second module, having a slave integrated circuit, coupled to the electronic system;
• determining a common communication standard usable by both the master and slave integrated circuits;
• transferring data from the master integrated circuit to a first programmable power supply to generate voltages for to configure the master integrated circuit to use the common communication standard;
• and
• transferring data from the slave integrated circuit to a second programmable power supply to generate voltages to configure the slave integrated circuit to use the common communication standard.

A method of operating an electronic system comprising:

• providing a master integrated circuit coupled to the electronic system;
• providing a first module, having a first slave integrated circuit, coupled to the electronic system;
• determining a common communication standard usable by both the master and first slave integrated circuits;
• transferring data from the master integrated circuit to a first programmable power supply to generate voltages for to configure the master integrated circuit to use the common communication standard;
• and
• transferring data from the first slave integrated circuit to a second programmable power supply to generate voltages to configure the first slave integrated circuit to use the common communication standard.

A method of operating an electronic system having a first integrated circuit requiring a plurality of operating voltages comprising:

• providing a signal from a second integrated circuit to power controller circuitry;
• decoding the signal using the power controller circuitry and generating first and second control signals;
• receiving the first control signal in a first programmable voltage generator, which generates a first voltage;
• receiving the second control signal in a second programmable voltage generator, which generates a second voltage, different from the first voltage;
• and
• providing the first and second voltages to the first integrated circuit.

An electronic system comprising:

• a module connector for connecting to a module comprising an integrated circuit comprising a programmable logic portion, wherein the module connector comprises a first programmable voltage line and power control signal line;
• a first programmable voltage supply, coupled to the first programmable voltage line of the module connector, wherein based on a signal received at a first control input of the first programmable voltage supply, the first programmable voltage supply generates a voltage on the first programmable voltage line;
• and
• a power controller block, coupled to the power control signal line of the module connector, wherein based a signal on the power control signal line, the power controller block generates signals for the first and second control inputs.