Control circuit for DC-DC converter in semiconductor integrated circuit device

A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

• a semiconductor circuit including a monitor circuit for generating a monitor signal representing a characteristic of the semiconductor circuit;
• and
• a power supply circuit, connected to the semiconductor circuit, for supplying the semiconductor circuit with operational voltage, the power supply circuit including:
• an output circuit for generating the operational voltage;
• and
• a signal generation circuit for generating a reference signal, either one of the semiconductor circuit and the power supply circuit including:
• a first control circuit, connected to the monitor circuit and the signal generation circuit, for comparing the monitor signal and the reference signal to control the output circuit to change the operational voltage in accordance with the comparison result;
• and
• a second control circuit, connected to the monitor circuit, for generating a control signal to intermittently operate the monitor circuit.

A semiconductor circuit for operation with voltage supplied from a DC-DC converter having a reference signal, the semiconductor circuit comprising:

• a monitor circuit, operated in accordance with a control signal, for generating a monitor signal representing a characteristic of the semiconductor circuit;
• a first control circuit for connection to the DC-DC converter and connected to the monitor circuit, for comparing the reference signal of the DC-DC converter and the monitor signal of the monitor circuit to control the DC-DC converter to change the voltage in accordance with the comparison result;
• and
• a second control circuit, connected to the monitor circuit, for generating a control signal to intermittently operate the monitor circuit.

A DC-DC converter for receiving input voltage and generating operational voltage for supply to a semiconductor circuit, wherein the semiconductor circuit includes a monitor circuit for generating a monitor signal representing a characteristic of the semiconductor circuit, the DC-DC converter comprising:

• a signal generation circuit for generating a reference signal;
• a first control circuit for connection to the monitor circuit and the signal generation circuit and comparing the monitor signal and the reference signal to control the operational voltage in accordance with the comparison result;
• and
• a second control circuit for connection to the monitor circuit and generating a control signal to intermittently operate the monitor circuit.

A method for controlling a DC-DC converter that receives input voltage and generates operational voltage supplied to a semiconductor circuit, the semiconductor circuit including a monitor circuit for generating a monitor signal representing a characteristic of the semiconductor circuit, the method comprising:

• generating a reference signal;
• comparing the monitor signal and the reference signal to control the DC-DC converter to change the operational voltage in accordance with the comparison result;
• and
• stopping the operation of the monitor circuit with a control signal.

A method for controlling a DC-DC converter that receives input voltage and generates operational voltage supplied to a semiconductor circuit, the semiconductor circuit including a monitor circuit for generating a monitor signal representing a characteristic of the semiconductor circuit, the method comprising:

• intermittently operating the monitor circuit with a control signal;
• generating a reference signal;
• and
• comparing the monitor signal and the reference signal to control the DC-DC converter to change the operational voltage in accordance with the comparison result.