Device and method for inhibiting power fluctuation

A device connected to a power supply and a load circuit to inhibit power supply voltage fluctuation that is caused by fluctuation of a load current generated by the load circuit, the device comprising:

• a current consumption circuit connected to the power supply and the load circuit to generate a consumption current that flows parallel to the load current of the load circuit;
• a data generation circuit for generating a digital signal that controls the consumption current of the current consumption circuit in order to inhibit fluctuation of an output current of the power supply, which is the sum of the load current and the consumption current, when the load current rises and when the consumption current falls;
• and
• a D/A converter connected to the data generation circuit and the current consumption circuit to convert the digital signal to an analog signal and provide the analog signal to the current consumption circuit.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of load circuits;
• and
• a plurality of power fluctuation inhibiting devices, each connected to an associated one of the load circuits to inhibit power supply voltage fluctuation that is caused by fluctuation of a load current generated by the associated load circuit, wherein each of the power fluctuation inhibiting devices includes;
• a current consumption circuit connected parallel to the associated load circuit and arranged near the load circuit to generate a consumption current that flows parallel to a load current generated by the associated load circuit;
• and
• a current control circuit connected to the current consumption circuit to control the consumption current of the current consumption circuit in order to inhibit fluctuation of an output current of the power supply, which is the sum of the load current and the consumption current, when the load current rises and falls, and wherein the current control circuit generates a digital signal that causes the consumption current to fall in synchronism with the rising of the load current and causes the consumption current to rise in synchronism with the falling of the load current.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• a plurality of load circuits;
• and
• a plurality of power fluctuation inhibiting devices, each connected to an associated one of the load circuits to inhibit power supply voltage fluctuation that is caused by fluctuation of a load current generated by the associated load circuit, wherein each of the power fluctuation inhibiting devices includes;
• a current consumption circuit connected parallel to the associated load circuit and arranged near the load circuit to generate a consumption current that flows parallel to a load current generated by the associated load circuit;
• and
• a data generation circuit used commonly by the power fluctuation inhibiting devices to generate a digital signal that controls the current consumption circuit in order to inhibit fluctuation of an output current of the power supply when the load current rises and falls;
• and
• a D/A converter connected to the data generation circuit and the current consumption circuit to convert the digital signal to an analog signal and provide the analog signal to the associated current consumption circuit, wherein the data generation circuit generates the digital signal for causing the consumption current to fall in synchronism with the rising of the load current, and generates the digital signal for causing the consumption current to rise in synchronism with the falling of the load current.

A method for inhibiting power supply voltage fluctuation that is caused by fluctuation of a load current generated by a load circuit, wherein the load circuit is connected to a current consumption circuit for generating a consumption current that flows parallel to the load current of the load circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

• causing the consumption current of the current consumption circuit to gradually rise before the load current of the load circuit rises;
• causing the consumption current to fall in synchronism with the rising of the load current;
• causing the consumption current to rise in synchronism with the falling of the load current;
• and
• causing the consumption current to gradually fall.