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US 8,806,229 B1Granted
Power reduction circuits and methods
AssigneeCypress Semiconductor Corporation
InventorDavid G. Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit device may include a plurality of external connections, any one of the connections providing both a power voltage path for the integrated circuit (IC) as well as an information signal path for the IC. At least one switch may be coupled to provide a power supply voltage to one of the external connections.
Claims18
A circuit, comprising:
- an integrated circuit (IC);
- a plurality of external connections, each of the external connections configured to provide a power voltage path for a power supply voltage to the IC and an information signal path to the IC, wherein a p-n junction of at least one external connection is biased in a first direction to provide the power voltage path to the IC and biased in an opposite direction to provide the information signal path;
- and
- a plurality of switches, each coupled to a corresponding external connection of the plurality of external connections, each of the plurality of switches configured to provide the power supply voltage through the corresponding external connection, wherein the power supply voltage is the only source of power to the IC in a power mode of the circuit.
1 more element
A circuit, comprising:
- an integrated circuit;
- a plurality of external signal connections configured to receive information signals;
- a plurality of switches, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of external signal connections, each external signal connection configured to receive a wake voltage through a corresponding switch;
- a control circuit configured to receive operational power from an internal power supply network, the internal power supply network coupled to an external power supply connection and to the plurality of external signal connections by diode type structures, the control circuit configured to activate a power supply switch enable signal in response to at least the wake voltage provided by a forward biasing of at least one of the diode type structures;
- and
- a power supply switch circuit configured to couple a power supply voltage to the external power supply connection in response to the power supply switch enable signal, wherein the power supply voltage is the only source of power to the integrated circuit in a power mode of the circuit.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- activating any one of a plurality of input switches, each one of the plurality of input switches coupled to a corresponding signal connection, each signal connection configured to receive information signals;
- responsive to the activating of the any one of the plurality of input switches, providing wake power to an integrated circuit (IC) by forward biasing a diode type structure formed at the corresponding signal connection, wherein the corresponding signal connection is different from any dedicated power supply input to the integrated circuit, wherein the wake power is the only source of power to the integrated circuit when the wake power is provided;
- and
- responsive to the wake power, enabling a power supply switch device to provide standard power to the integrated circuit via at least one dedicated power supply unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.