Power regulation system for controlling voltage excursions

An apparatus for providing voltage regulation, comprising:

• first voltage regulation means for producing a regulated output voltage at an output;
• second voltage regulation means for regulating voltage at a faster transient response than the first voltage regulation means;
• load means for sinking excess current from said first voltage regulation means;
• a circuit for setting an allowable regulated output voltage range;
• and
• comparator means for comparing the regulated voltage with the allowable regulated output voltage range and for activating the second voltage regulation means when the regulated output voltage is below the allowable regulated output range and activating the load means when the regulated output voltage is above the allowable regulated output range, wherein the second voltage regulation means does not regulate voltage when the load means is activated.

A computer system comprising:

• a microprocessor that processes digital data;
• a memory that stores digital data;
• a bus coupling the microprocessor to the memory;
• a voltage regulating circuit that provides dynamic voltage regulation to the computer system comprising a first voltage regulator that provides a regulated output voltage at an output, a second voltage regulator coupled in parallel to the first voltage regulator, that regulates voltage at a faster transient response than the first voltage regulator, a load component coupled to the output, a first circuit that sets an allowable regulated output voltage range, a second circuit that compares the regulated output voltage with the allowable output voltage range and that activates the second voltage regulator when the regulated output voltage is below the allowable regulated output range, and that activates the load component when the regulated output voltage is above the allowable output voltage range, wherein the second voltage regulator does not regulate voltage when the load component is activated.

A computer system comprising:

• microprocessing means for processing digital data;
• memory means for storing the digital data;
• bus means for coupling the processing means to the memory means;
• voltage regulating means for providing dynamic voltage regulation to the computer system comprising first voltage regulation means for producing a regulated output voltage at an output, second voltage regulation means for regulating voltage at a faster transient response than the first voltage regulation means, load means for sinking excess current from the first voltage regulation means, a circuit for setting an allowable regulated output voltage range, and comparator means for comparing the regulated output voltage with the allowable regulated output voltage range and activating the second voltage regulator when the regulated output voltage is below the allowable regulated output voltage range, and activating the load means when the regulated output voltage is above the allowable regulated output voltage range, wherein the second voltage regulation means does not regulate voltage when the load means is activated.

An apparatus providing dynamic voltage regulation for a computer system comprising:

• a switching regulator that provides a regulated output voltage;
• a linear regulator coupled in parallel to the switching regulator,
• a linear load coupled to the switching regulator;
• a first circuit that sets an allowable regulated output voltage range for the computer system;
• and
• a second circuit that activates the linear voltage regulator when the regulated output voltage is below the allowable regulated output voltage range and that activates the linear load when the regulated output voltage is above the allowable output voltage range, wherein the linear voltage regulator does not regulate voltage when the linear load is activated.

A method for providing dynamic voltage regulation for an electronic system, comprising the steps of:

• setting an allowable regulated output voltage range;
• sending unregulated voltage to a first voltage regulator for producing a first regulated output voltage;
• determining whether the regulated output voltage is within the allowable regulated output voltage range;
• sending the first regulated output voltage to the electronic system if the first regulated output voltage is within the allowable regulated output voltage range;
• activating a second voltage regulator if the regulated output voltage falls below the allowable regulated output voltage range, the second voltage regulator having a faster transient response than the first voltage regulator;
• and
• activating a load component if the regulated output voltage rises above the allowable regulated output range, wherein the second voltage regulator is not activated when the load component is activated.