Multi-deck circuits with common rails
AssigneeSensata Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNeil J. Howard, Davide Bianchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-deck circuit arrangement including a first deck circuit having a negative supply terminal and a second deck having a positive supply terminal connected to the negative supply terminal. A single power supply provides a voltage across both the first and second decks. The total power consumption will be less than the prior art of having both deck circuits conventionally regulated. The supply rail connecting the second deck's positive supply terminal to the first deck's negative supply terminal may be regulated. In one embodiment, the rail voltage can be controlled to optimize deck circuit operation for speed and power and to avoid level shifters when interfacing to other circuits.
Claims25
Circuitry comprising:
- a first circuit comprising a first positive supply terminal and a first negative supply terminal;
- a second circuit comprising a second voltage positive supply terminal and a second negative supply terminal, where the first negative supply terminal is electrically connected to the second positive supply terminal;
- and
- a voltage source comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connected electrically with the first positive supply terminal and the second terminal being connected electrically with the second negative supply terminal, the voltage source being configured to provide a voltage across the first terminal and the second terminal.
Circuitry comprising:
- a first circuit comprising a first positive supply terminal and a first negative supply terminal, the first circuit being configured to operate using a first voltage;
- a second circuit comprising a second positive supply terminal and a second negative supply terminal, where the first negative supply terminal is connected to the second positive supply terminal and the second circuit is configured to operate using a second voltage;
- a voltage regulator configured to regulate the first voltage and the second voltage by balancing current between the first circuit and second circuit;
- and
- a voltage source comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connected electrically with the first positive supply terminal and the second terminal being connected electrically with the second negative supply terminal, the voltage source being configured to provide a voltage across the first terminal and the second terminal.
A multi-deck circuit arrangement comprising:
- a first deck having a negative supply terminal;
- a second deck having a positive supply terminal connected to the negative supply terminal;
- and
- a single power supply for providing voltage to the first and second deck, wherein the voltage is higher than needed by at least one of the first or second deck.
A plurality of circuits comprising:
- a positive supply terminal of a first circuit electrically connected to a negative supply terminal of a second circuit and repeating so on to a last circuit, with power applied across the positive supply terminal of the last circuit and the negative supply terminal of the first circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.