Constant current and voltage method and apparatus
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsJahanshir J. Javanifard, Hari Giduturi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A signal generator in an integrated circuit includes circuitry to generate an output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between a first reference value and a second reference value. The output signal has an output signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal. A first reference device provides the first reference value based on an input signal. A second reference device provides the second reference value based on the input signal. The second reference value can be any one of a plurality of selectable reference values. At least one of the plurality of selectable reference values reduces the output signal variation.
Claims23
A signal generator in an integrated circuit, comprising:
- circuitry to generate an output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between a first reference value and a second reference value, wherein the output signal has an output signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal;
- a first reference device to provide the first reference value based on an input signal;
- a second reference device to provide the second reference value based on the inputs signal;
- and
- a selectable resistor circuit coupled to the second reference device to reduce the output signal variation.
A configuration device comprising:
- a search unit to supply an input value to a signal generator in a first integrated circuit to select one of a plurality of reference values to be used within the signal generator as a first reference value;
- and
- a comparison unit to determine an output signal variation of an output signal generated by the signal generator, said signal generator to generate the output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between the first reference value and a second reference value, said signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal;
- said search unit and comparison unit to repeatedly change the input value and determine the output signal variation until the signal variation is acceptably reduced or the plurality of reference values are exhausted.
A method comprising:
- supplying an input value to a signal generator in a first integrated circuit to select one of a plurality of reference values to be used within the signal generator as a first reference value;
- determining an output signal variation of an output signal generated by the signal generator, said signal generator to generate the output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between the first reference value and a second reference value, said signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal;
- and
- repeatedly changing the input value, supplying the input value, and determining the output signal variation until the signal variation is acceptably reduced or the plurality of reference values are exhausted.
A system, comprising:
- a bus;
- a processor couple to the bus;
- and
- a memory, coupled to the bus, to store a basic input output system (BIOS) for the processor and to include a signal source, wherein the signal source comprises:
- circuitry to generate an output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between a first reference value and a second reference value, wherein the output signal has an output signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal;
- a first reference device to provide the first reference value based on an input signal;
- a second reference device to provide the second reference value based on the inputs signal;
- and
- a selectable resistor circuit coupled to the second reference device to reduce the output signal variation.
A machine readable storage medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the execution of which to implement a method comprising:
- supplying an input value to a signal generator in a first integrated circuit to select one of a plurality of reference values to be used within the signal generator as a first reference value;
- determining an output signal variation of an output signal generated by the signal generator, said signal generator to generate the output signal based on a supply signal and a difference between the first reference value and a second reference value, said signal variation due to at least one of a process variation, a temperature variation, and a variation in the supply signal;
- and
- repeatedly changing the input value, supplying the input value, and determining the output signal variation until the signal variation is acceptably reduced or the plurality of reference values are exhausted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.