US 8,896,148 B2 · Use of auxiliary currents for voltage regulation

Abstract

One embodiment relates to an apparatus that includes at least one circuit block and a voltage source configured to supply a first voltage to the at least one circuit block. The apparatus also includes a power delivery unit configured to be selectively activated based on a whether a quantity of power is to be delivered from the power delivery unit to the circuit block. A control unit is configured to, upon a change in power consumption of the at least one circuit block, activate the auxiliary power delivery unit to deliver the quantity of power to the circuit block. The auxiliary power delivery unit can quickly supply large currents since it does not necessarily rely on slow control loops using voltage sensing. Rather, the auxiliary power delivery unit often delivers pre-calculated current profiles to respond to the timing characteristic of the change of power consumption and of the voltage regulator.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

at least one circuit block;
a voltage source configured to supply a first voltage to the at least one circuit block;
a control unit configured to activate a control signal upon discerning an actual or expected change in power consumption of the at least one circuit block;
and
an auxiliary power delivery unit comprising multiple power delivery elements and a timing sequence generator, wherein the timing sequence generator is configured to provide a digital sequence to sequentially enable different combinations of the multiple power delivery elements to selectively deliver a predetermined quantity of current to the circuit block in addition to current supplied to the at least one circuit block by the voltage source based on activation of the control signal.

2 more elements

A circuit, comprising:

a primary power supply configured to provide an internal supply voltage, wherein the primary power supply comprises:
a reference circuit configured to provide a reference voltage, and a voltage regulator configured to supply the internal supply voltage based on both the reference voltage and an external supply voltage;
an auxiliary power delivery unit comprising multiple individually controlled power delivery elements and a timing sequence generator;
at least one circuit block coupled to both the primary power supply and the auxiliary power delivery unit, wherein the at least one circuit block is configured to consume different quantities of power for different respective modes;
and
a control unit configured to, upon a change in power consumption of the at least one circuit block, activate the auxiliary power delivery unit to deliver a predetermined power profile to the circuit block in addition to the internal supply voltage supplied to the at least one circuit block by the primary power supply;
wherein the timing sequence generator is configured to provide a digital sequence to sequentially enable different combinations of the multiple power delivery elements to selectively deliver the predetermined power profile to the circuit block.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Use of auxiliary currents for voltage regulation

Life of this patent

Use of auxiliary currents for voltage regulation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19