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US 7,624,291 B2Granted
Power optimized multi-mode voltage regulator
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorDon J. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multiple components of a computer system may be capable of entering wake and sleep states. The power consumption of a processor during wake state may draw significant amount of current. In order to keep power consumption of a voltage regulator low, a two-phase voltage regulator may be used during wake state. During sleep state, since power consumption is lower, the two-phase voltage regulator may be operated in a single-phase mode to further reduce voltage regulator power consumption.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- generating a power state signal to indicate a first power state of a plurality of components of a computer system;
- operating a voltage regulator in a single-phase mode of operation when the plurality of components transitions to a second power state;
- operating the voltage regulator in a multi-phase mode of operation when the plurality of components transitions to the first power state, where the first power state is a wake state and the second power state is a sleep state, and
- operating the voltage regulator at a lower frequency when the power state signal indicates the components are in the sleep state.
1 more element
A computer system comprising:
- a power manager to generate a power state signal to indicate a power state of a plurality of components of the computer system;
- and
- a voltage regulator to supply a voltage to the plurality of components and to transition between two-phase or single-phase mode of operation when the plurality of components transitions between first and second power states, as indicated by the power state signal;
- and
- wherein the voltage regulator is to transition to a single-phase mode of operation when the plurality of components transitions to a sleep state,
- wherein the voltage regulator is to transition to a multi-phase mode of operation when the plurality of components transitions to a wake state, and
- wherein the voltage regulator is to operate at a lower frequency when the power state signal indicates the components are in the sleep state.
4 more elements
A voltage regulator comprising:
- an input to receive a power state signal to indicate power states of components in a computer system;
- an output to supply voltage to the components at a output voltage;
- a switch to operate with the voltage regulator, wherein the switch is closed when the power state signal indicates that the components are in wake state, and wherein the switch is open when the power state signal indicates that the components are in sleep state;
- a voltage controller to control operating in multi-phase or single-phase mode of operation, wherein a first and a second phase of the multi-phase mode of operation are performed in parallel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.