Power switch having series-connected switching stages

A method comprising the steps of:

• configuring a power switch comprising a plurality of series-connected switching stages, each such series-connected switching stage comprising a plurality of parallel-connected switching devices and an inverter chain, the switching devices being coupled between a power supply input and a power supply output of the power switch, and each of the switching devices of a given one of the switching stages being driven by an output of a corresponding one of the inverters of the inverter chain of that switching stage;
• and
• controlling a state of the power switch responsive to a control signal applied to a control input of a first one of the switching stages;
• wherein a control input of each of the remaining switching stages is driven by a control output of an immediately preceding one of the switching stages;
• and
• wherein the parallel-connected switching devices in one or more of the switching stages are configured to have different switching characteristics than the parallel-connected switching devices in at least one other one of the switching stages.

A processing device comprising:

• an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of circuit cores;
• and
• power supply circuitry for supplying power to said circuit cores;
• the power supply circuitry comprising a plurality of power switches with each said power switch controlling application of power to a corresponding one of said circuit cores;
• a given one of the power switches comprising a plurality of series-connected switching stages, each such series-connected switching stage comprising a plurality of parallel-connected switching devices and an inverter chain, the switching devices being coupled between a power supply input and a power supply output of the power switch, and each of the switching devices of a given one of the switching stages being driven by an output of a corresponding one of the inverters of the inverter chain of that switching stage;
• wherein a control input of a first one of the switching stages is adapted to receive a control signal for controlling a state of the power switch;
• wherein a control input of each of the remaining switching stages is driven by a control output of an immediately preceding one of the switching stages;
• and
• wherein the parallel-connected switching devices in one or more of the switching stages are configured to have different switching characteristics than the parallel-connected switching devices in at least one other one of the switching stages.