Back to results
US 6,788,511 B1Granted
Domain power notification system
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsSimon Bikulcius, Mark A. Landguth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A domain power notification system detects when a power domain experiences a power condition, such as lost power and low-voltage power, and communicates that information to the domains that communicate with the problem domain. As a result, the effected domains stop communicating with the problem domain without passing erroneous information.
Claims20
A domain power notification system comprising:
- a plurality of power domains that receive a corresponding plurality of status signals, and output a corresponding plurality of power signals so that each power domain receives a corresponding status signal and outputs a corresponding power signal, each domain being independently powered, the power signals representing power supply voltages on the power domains so that each power signal represents a power supply voltage on a power domain, and each power domain being connected to at least one other power domain;
- and
- a domain notification circuit connected to a first domain and a second domain of the plurality of power domains, the domain notification circuit being independently-powered and capable of receiving a power signal from the first domain and the second power domain and outputting a status signal to the first domain, the status signal indicating a power condition of the second power domain.
A method of operating a domain power notification system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of power domains that receive a corresponding plurality of status signals and output a corresponding plurality of power signals so that each power domain receives a corresponding status signal and outputs a corresponding power signal, each domain being independently powered, the power signals representing power supply voltages on the power domains so that each power signal represents a power supply voltage on a power domain, and each power domain being connected to at least one other power domain;
- and
- a domain notification circuit connected to a first domain and a second domain of the plurality of power domains, the domain notification circuit being independently-powered and capable of receiving a power signal from the first domain and the second power domain and outputting a status signal to the first domain, the status signal indicating a power condition of the second power domain,
- the method comprising:
- monitoring a power signal from the second power domain;
- and
- outputting a status signal to indicate when the power signal from the second power domain falls below a minimum operational voltage.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.