US 2008/0178030 A1 · SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

An interrupt power supply control unit 5 monitors interrupts 11, 21, 31 issued from function blocks 1, 2, 3, and also, a power supply control instruction 41 issued from a CPU 4. When either an interrupt or an instruction is issued, the interrupt power supply control unit 5 performs a power supply control operation in accordance with a content of an interrupt power supply control table 50. In the power supply control operation, ON/OFF-control operations of power supply switches 12, 22, 32, 42 are carried out, and also, control signals 581 and 582 are outputted to power supply cutoff solving elements 81 and 82. When electric power of the power supply is supplied to a necessary function block in accordance with the power supply control operation, the interrupt power supply control unit 5 initiates the relevant function block in accordance with the content of the interrupt power supply control table 50.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising:

a plurality of functions;
a CPU;
a power supply control unit to which electric power of a power supply is continuously supplied, and which controls supplying of electric power of the power supply to said plurality of function blocks and said CPU;
and
a plurality of switch units controlled by said power supply control unit, for switching an electric power supplying operation of the power supply and an electric power cutting off operation thereof with respect to each of said plural function blocks and said CPU;
wherein:
in response to either an interrupt issued from any one of said plural function blocks or an instruction issued from said CPU, said power supply control unit controls each of said plural switch units, and thereafter, initiates at least one of said plural function blocks and said CPU.

4 more elements

An electric power supply controlling method for a semiconductor integrated circuit equipped with:

a plurality of functions;
a CPU (central processing unit);
a power supply control unit to which electric power of a power supply is continuously supplied, and which controls supplying of electric power of the power supply to said plurality of function blocks and said CPU;
and a plurality of switch units controlled by said power supply control unit, for switching an electric power supplying operation of the power supply and an electric power cutting off operation thereof with respect to each of said plural function blocks and said CPU;
the electric power supply controlling method for said semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising:
a reception step in which said power supply control unit receives said interrupt issued from each of said plural function blocks, or said instruction issued from said CPU;
a power supply control step in which in response to either an interrupt issued from any one of said plural function blocks or an instruction issued from said CPU, said power supply control unit controls each of said plural switch units;
and
an initiation step for initiating at least one of said plural function blocks and said CPU.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Semiconductor integrated circuit and electric power supply controlling method thereof

Life of this patent

Semiconductor integrated circuit and electric power supply controlling method thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20