Method and apparatus for supplying power to electronic circuits

12 The method of claim 11 wherein generating a second voltage when the change in the first operating mode of the load is detected comprises allowing voltage and current to stabilize at the load prior to generating the second voltage.

The method of claim 12 wherein generating a second voltage at the stabilized value of load current comprises generating a higher voltage than the stabilized voltage when the load transitions from a low power consumption mode to a high power consumption mode.

The method of claim 12 wherein the first voltage, the stabilized voltage, and the second voltage are less than a maximum permissible voltage for the circuit.

The method of claim 111 wherein detecting a change in the first operating mode of the load comprises any one of a controller detecting the change in the first operating mode of the load, and the load signaling the controller of the change in the first operating mode of the load.

The method of claim 12 wherein allowing voltage and current to stabilize at the load comprises at least one of allowing the voltage to stabilize at a value that is at least 3% of the voltage of the first mode, and allowing the current to stabilize at a value of at least 20% of the value of the maximum current of the load.

An apparatus comprising:

• a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a bus interface unit, a core coupled to the bus interface unit, and a clock coupled to the bus interface unit and the core;
• and
• a voltage regulator circuit to regulate power to the microprocessor, a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit, said controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage at the microprocessor, when the microprocessor operates in a first mode, and the controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage during the transition of the microprocessor between the first mode and a second mode.

An apparatus comprising:

• a sense circuit coupled to a voltage regulator circuit and a load;
• a controller coupled to the sense circuit and the voltage regulator circuit, said controller comprising a voltage comparison unit and a voltage reference unit, the voltage comparison unit to compare the voltage across the sense circuit with a reference voltage in the voltage reference unit to determine an operating mode of the load, the voltage comparison unit to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage when the load operates in a first mode, the voltage comparison unit to detect a transition in the load from the first mode to a second mode, and to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage after the controller detects the transition in the load from the first mode to the second mode.