# US 7,609,047 B2 · Dynamically configurable voltage regulator for integrated circuits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,047 B2 - Document ID: US7609047B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/595,283 - Filed: 2006-11-09 - Published: 2008-05-15 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-09 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Krishnan Ravichandran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609047B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/14: Balancing load and power generation in DC networks - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/32: Means for saving power - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 9/062: {for AC powered loads} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A voltage regulator architecture for an integrated circuit is described. An apparatus may comprise a power switch array having multiple pass transistors, a voltage regulator array having multiple voltage regulators each coupled to a subset of the pass transistors, a subsystem circuit array having multiple subsystem circuits each coupled to a subset of the pass transistors, and a power management control unit coupled to the pass transistors and the voltage regulators. The power management control unit may be arranged to control the pass transistors and voltage regulators to provide different amounts of power to the subsystem circuits. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a power switch array having multiple pass transistors; a voltage regulator array having multiple voltage regulators each coupled to a subset of said pass transistors; a subsystem array having multiple subsystem circuits each coupled to a subset of said pass transistors; and a power management control unit coupled to said pass transistors and said voltage regulators, said power management control unit to control said pass transistors and voltage regulators to provide different amounts of power to said subsystem circuits and to output a voltage regulator control signal to control a voltage regulator to provide an output voltage at a defined voltage level within a defined voltage range. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said power switch array, voltage regulator array, subsystem circuit array, and power management control unit disposed on a single chip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said voltage regulators coupled to a main power supply to receive power at a first voltage level, and convert said power from said first voltage level to a second voltage level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said power management control unit to control said pass transistors and voltage regulators to dynamically modify an amount of power provided to a subsystem circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said power management control unit to output a pass transistor control signal to control a pass transistor to pass power from one of said voltage regulator to one of said subsystem circuits. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said power management control unit to output a voltage regulator control signal and a pass transistor control signal to control power from a voltage regulator through a pass transistor to a subsystem circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said power management control unit to output a voltage regulator control signal and a pass transistor control signal to control an amount of power from multiple voltage regulators through multiple pass transistors to a subsystem circuit based on an operating voltage level for said subsystem circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a current sensor disposed between a main power supply and said voltage regulators, and multiple current sensors disposed between said pass transistors and said subsystem circuits, said current sensors providing output current values to said power management control unit, said power management control to output a voltage regulator control signal and a pass transistor control signal to modify power to a subsystem circuit based on said output current values. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a current sensor disposed between a main power supply and said voltage regulators, said current sensor to output a current value; multiple current sensors disposed between said subset of pass transistors and said subsystem circuits, said current sensors to output current values; and said power management control unit to receive as input said current values, allocate a set of voltage regulators for each of said subsystem circuits, and output control signals to activate said allocated set of voltage regulators and pass transistors coupled to said allocated set of voltage regulators. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: a power switch away having multiple pass transistors; a voltage regulator array having multiple voltage regulators each coupled to a subset of said pass transistors; a subsystem circuit array having multiple subsystem circuits each coupled to a subset of said pass transistors; a power management control unit coupled to said pass transistors and said voltage regulators, said power management control unit to control said pass transistors and voltage regulators to provide different amounts of power to said subsystem circuits; a main power supply to couple to said voltage regulator array; and a current sensor disposed between the main power supply and said voltage regulators, and multiple current sensors disposed between said pass transistors and said subsystem circuits, said current sensors providing output current values to said power management control unit, said power management control to output a voltage regulator control signal and a pass transistor control signal to modify power to a subsystem circuit based on said output current values. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, said power switch array, voltage regulator array and subsystem circuit away disposed upon a single die. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, said power management control unit to control said pass transistors and voltage regulators to dynamically modify an amount of power provided to a subsystem circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, said power management control unit to output voltage regulator control signals and pass transistor control signals to control an amount of power from multiple voltage regulators through multiple pass transistors to a subsystem circuit based on an operating voltage level for said subsystem circuit. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising coupling voltage regulators to a subsystem circuit through a set of pass transistors; receiving power at a first voltage level by said voltage regulators; converting said power to a second voltage level by said voltage regulators; passing said power at said second voltage level to the subsystem circuit through said pass transistors; sensing a current level; and selecting said voltage regulators and said pass transistors based on said current level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, comprising coupling an additional voltage regulator to said subsystem circuit through another pass transistor to provide more power to said subsystem circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, comprising decoupling a voltage regulator from said subsystem circuit through one of said pass transistors to provide less power to said subsystem circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, comprising modifying an output voltage level for a voltage regulator to provide more power to said subsystem circuit.