US 2017/0012627 A1 · CONFIGURABLE POWER DOMAIN AND METHOD

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure are directed to level-shifting approaches with communications between respective circuits. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments characterized herein, a voltage level of communications passed between respective circuits are selectively shifted. Where the respective circuits operate under respective power domains that are shifted in voltage range relative to one another, the voltage level of the communications is shifted. This approach may, for example, facilitate power-savings for stacked circuits in which a low-level voltage of one circuit is provided as a high-level voltage for another circuit. When the respective circuits operate under a common power domain, the communications are passed directly between the respective circuits (e.g., bypassing any level-shifting, and facilitating fast communication).

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured and arranged to operate under a first power domain having a first voltage range;
a second circuit configured and arranged to operate under a second power domain having a second voltage range;
and
a level shifter circuit connected to the first circuit and to the second circuit, the level shifter circuit being configured and arranged to:
detect a voltage range of the first power domain,
detect a voltage range of the second power domain, and
for communications between the first and second circuits,
convert a voltage level of each communication received from one of the first and second circuits to a voltage level of the other one of the first and second circuits in response to the detected voltage ranges being different, and thereafter providing the communication to the other one of the first and second circuits, and
pass each communication directly between the first and second circuits in response to the detected voltage ranges being the same.

6 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured and arranged to operate under a first power domain having a first voltage range;
a second circuit configured and arranged to operate under a second power domain having a second voltage range;
and
an interface circuit connected to the first circuit and to the second circuit, the interface circuit being configured and arranged to:
in a first mode, convert a voltage level of communications passed between the first circuit and the second circuit, and
in a second mode, pass communications directly between the first circuit and the second circuit at a common voltage level.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Configurable power domain and method

Life of this patent

Configurable power domain and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20