On-chip voltage regulator

A system on chip, comprising:

• a first signal generator for generating a first signal, the first signal being a reference signal and having a first property that is at least substantially constant over a range of operating conditions of the system on chip;
• a second signal generator for generating a second signal having a second property that is indicative of an operating condition of the system on chip, the second property being variable over the range of operating conditions of the system on chip;
• a voltage regulator;
• and
• a digital logic controller comprising:
• a first input for receiving the first signal;
• a second input for receiving the second signal;
• an output;
• and
• a comparator for comparing the first property of the first signal and the second property of the second signal, wherein
• based on the comparison, the digital logic controller outputs to the voltage regulator, via the output, a regulation signal for regulating the voltage of the system on chip at or near a target voltage that is a predetermined amount higher than a minimum operating voltage of the system on chip.

A method for regulating a voltage of a system on chip, the method comprising:

• providing a digital logic controller comprising:
• a first input;
• a second input;
• an output;
• and
• a comparator;
• receiving, at the first input of the digital logic controller, a first signal generated by a first signal generator, the first signal being a reference signal and having a first property which is at least substantially constant over a range of operating conditions of the system on chip;
• receiving, at the second input of the digital logic controller, a second signal generated by a second signal generator, the second signal having a second property which is indicative of an operating condition of the system on chip, the second property being variable over the range of operating conditions of the system on chip;
• comparing, using the comparator, the first property of the first signal and the second property of the second signal;
• and
• in dependence of the comparison, regulating the voltage of the system on chip at or near a target voltage a predetermined amount higher than a minimum operating voltage of the system on chip by outputting, via the output of the digital logic controller, a regulation signal to a voltage regulator.