Method and apparatus for soft start power gating with automatic voltage level detection
AssigneeATI Technologies ULC
InventorsOmid Rowhani, Vincent Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for selectively charging a secondary voltage rail includes selectively and partially charging a secondary voltage rail using at least one soft start power gate switch and using an initial power control indicator. The partially charged secondary voltage rail is selectively charged, using at least one main power gate switch, based on the initial power control indicator and a detected voltage on the secondary voltage rail. When the initial power control indicator is in a state representative of an initial power up command and when the detected voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage level, at least one main power gate switch is closed thereby charging the secondary voltage rail.
Claims29
A power gating circuit comprising:
- at least one main power gate switch, wherein the at least one main power gate switch is operatively coupled to a first power rail and selectively operative to charge a partially charged secondary voltage rail based on a main power control indicator;
- and
- an automatic voltage level detector operative to detect a feedback voltage level on the secondary voltage rail and to generate the main power control indicator based on:
- an initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level.
A method for charging a voltage rail, the method comprising:
- receiving an initial power control indicator;
- automatically detecting a feedback voltage level on the voltage rail;
- and
- selectively charging a partially charged voltage rail based on the initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level.
A power gating circuit comprising:
- at least one main power gate switch, wherein the at least one main power gate switch is operatively coupled to a first power rail and selectively operative to charge a partially charged secondary voltage rail based on a main power control indicator;
- at least one automatic voltage level detector, wherein the at least one automatic voltage level detector is operative to detect a feedback voltage level on the secondary voltage rail and to generate an intermediate power control indicator based on:
- an initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level;
- and
- a confirmation circuit operative to generate the main power control indicator based on the intermediate power control indicator.
A method for charging a voltage rail, the method comprising:
- receiving an initial power control indicator;
- detecting a feedback voltage level on the voltage rail at two or more locations on the voltage rail;
- and
- selectively charging a partially charged voltage rail based on the initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level.
A computer system comprising:
- a host processor;
- memory coupled to the host processor;
- a power supply;
- and
- a circuit comprising:
- a first power rail operatively coupled to the power supply;
- at least one main power gate switch, wherein the at least one main power gate switch is operatively coupled to the first power rail and selectively operative to charge a partially charged secondary voltage rail based on a main power control indicator;
- and
- an automatic voltage level detector operative to detect a feedback voltage level on the secondary voltage rail and to generate the main power control indicator based on an initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level.
Memory storing instructions executable by one or more processors that causes the one or more processors to create a power gating circuit such that the power gating circuit is operative to:
- receive an initial power control indicator;
- automatically detect a feedback voltage level on a voltage rail;
- and
- selectively charge a partially charged voltage rail based on the initial power control indicator and the detected voltage level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.