Power configuration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a switching power supply circuit configured and arranged to;
operate in a high-power mode by connecting high and low power rails of a first circuit to a power source circuit, and by connecting high and low power rails of a second circuit to the power source circuit, andoperate in a low-power mode in which the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and in which the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain, by connecting the low power rail of the first circuit to the high power rail of the second circuit;
a control circuit configured and arranged to respond to a control signal by switching the switching circuit between the high-power mode and the low-power mode for power conservation; and
a mode control circuit configured and arranged with the switching circuit and the control circuit to monitor accesses to the first and second circuit, and to change the control signal in response to detecting whether there has been a request for access of at least one of the first or second circuits.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
As may be consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and or method involves a switching power supply circuit and a control circuit therefor. The switching power supply circuit operates in high and low-power modes. In the high power mode, high and low power rails of a first circuit and of a second circuit are coupled to a power source circuit (e.g. a battery). In the low-power mode, the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain. The control circuit operates the switching circuit in the high-power mode and low-power mode (for power conservation) in response to a control signal.
28 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a switching power supply circuit configured and arranged to; operate in a high-power mode by connecting high and low power rails of a first circuit to a power source circuit, and by connecting high and low power rails of a second circuit to the power source circuit, and operate in a low-power mode in which the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and in which the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain, by connecting the low power rail of the first circuit to the high power rail of the second circuit; a control circuit configured and arranged to respond to a control signal by switching the switching circuit between the high-power mode and the low-power mode for power conservation; and a mode control circuit configured and arranged with the switching circuit and the control circuit to monitor accesses to the first and second circuit, and to change the control signal in response to detecting whether there has been a request for access of at least one of the first or second circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method comprising:
-
operating a switching power supply circuit in a high-power mode by connecting high and low power rails of a first circuit to a power source circuit, and by connecting high and low power rails of a second circuit to the power source circuit, and operating the switching power supply circuit in a low-power mode in which the first circuit is operated in a high power domain and in which the second circuit is operated in a low power domain using recycled charge from the high power domain, by connecting the low power rail of the first circuit to the high power rail of the second circuit; detecting whether there has been a request for access to at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit and in response to changing a control signal; and in response to the control signal, switching the switching circuit between the high-power mode and the low-power mode for power conservation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification