Systems and methods for on-chip power management
AssigneeThe Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
InventorsJien-Chung Lo, Chuen-Song Chen
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Abstract
A power measurement system is disclosed for use on an integrated circuit for measuring the power used by the integrated circuit. The power measurement system includes a low-dropout voltage regulator and a signal input unit. The low-dropout voltage regulator includes a power transistor that couples a supply voltage to a circuit to be powered by the supply voltage, and the low-dropout voltage regulator provides an internal adjustment signal (Vsen) for adjusting the internal resistance of the power transistor. The signal input unit receives the internal adjustment signal (Vsen) and provides a power measurement signal responsive to the internal adjustment signal (Vsen).
Claims20
A power measurement system for use on an integrated circuit for measuring the power used by the integrated circuit, said power measurement system comprising:
- a low-dropout voltage regulator including a power transistor that couples a supply voltage to a circuit to be powered by the supply voltage, said low-dropout voltage regulator providing an internal adjustment signal (Vsen) for adjusting the internal resistance of the power transistor;
- and
- signal input means for receiving the internal adjustment signal (Vsen) and providing a power measurement signal responsive to the internal adjustment signal (Vsen).
A power measurement system for use on an integrated circuit for measuring the power used by the integrated circuit, said power measurement system comprising:
- a low-dropout voltage regulator including a power transistor that couples a supply voltage to a circuit to be powered by the supply voltage, said low-dropout voltage regulator also including an error amplifier for providing an internal adjustment signal (Vsen) for adjusting the internal resistance of the power transistor;
- and
- signal input means for receiving the internal adjustment signal (Vsen) determining a current measurement (Idd) based on the internal adjustment signal (Vsen), and estimating a power measurement signal based on the current measurement (Idd).
A method of measuring power used by the integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an internal adjustment signal (Vsen) from an error amplifier in a low-dropout voltage regulator that includes a power transistor for coupling a supply voltage to a circuit to be powered by the supply voltage, said internal adjustment signal (Vsen) for adjusting the internal resistance of the power transistor;
- and
- providing a power measurement signal responsive to the internal adjustment signal (Vsen).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.