Method of switching voltage islands in integrated circuits
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRafael Blanco, John Cohn, Kenneth Goodnow, Douglas Stout, Sebastian Ventrone
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Abstract
An integrated circuit has a power grid and a set of independently switchable voltage islands, together with a system and method for measuring the voltage and history of the voltage on the power grid to determine the correct time to allow a large capacitive load (such as a voltage island) to be switched on to or off the power grid.
Claims20
A method of controlling at least one voltage level across a distributed power grid within an integrated circuit having a set of independently switchable voltage islands comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of voltage sensors connected to different locations in said power grid;
- coupling to said plurality of voltage sensors a plurality of storage means adapted to store sequentially a set of N voltage values such that said plurality of storage means store N sequential grid voltage values from said plurality of voltage sensors;
- providing a controller for controlling said independently switchable voltage islands, said controller being coupled to each of said plurality of voltage sensors and to said plurality of storage means, said controller being adapted to respond to a request to switch a Kth voltage island by switching said Kth voltage island at a time such that a grid voltage level at a reference location is within a specified range.
An integrated circuit having a distributed power grid and a set of independently switchable voltage islands connected to the power grid and controlled by at least one controller:
- providing a plurality of voltage sensors connected to different locations in said power grid;
- a plurality of storage means adapted to store sequentially a set of N voltage values coupled to said plurality of voltage sensors such that said plurality of storage means store N sequential grid voltage values from said plurality of voltage sensors;
- at least one controller connected to at least one of said independently switchable voltage islands, said controller being coupled to at least one of said plurality of voltage sensors and to at least one corresponding storage means, said controller being adapted to respond to a request to switch a Kth voltage island by switching said Kth voltage island at a time such that a grid voltage level at a reference location is within a specified range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.