Adaptively controlling drive strength of multiplexed power from supply power rails in a power multiplexing system to a powered circuit

• US 10,684,671 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sridhar, Shraddha, Kolla, Yeshwant Nagaraj, Natekar, Neel Shashank
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shiao, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/593,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20170346299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0084 measuring voltage only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/147 Voltage reference generators, voltage or current regulators; Internally lowered supply levels; Compensation for voltage drops G11C5/141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/0016 by using a control or a clock signal, e.g. in order to apply power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/00384 in field effect transistor circuits

Abstract

Adaptively controlling drive strength of multiplexed power from supply power rails in a power multiplexing system to a powered circuit is disclosed. A power multiplexing circuit in the power multiplexing system includes a plurality of supply selection circuits (e.g., head switches) each coupled between a respective supply power rail and an output power rail coupled to the powered circuit. The power multiplexing circuit is configured to activate a selected supply selection circuit to switch coupling of an associated supply power rail to the output power rail to power the powered circuit. In one example, the supply selection circuits each include a plurality of power switch selection circuits coupled to an associated supply power rail. The power switch selection circuits are configured to be activated and deactivated by a control circuit to adjust drive strength of a multiplexed supply power rail based on operational conditions, which can account for performance variations.

Claims

1. A power multiplexing system, comprising:

a power multiplexing circuit, comprising;

a first supply selection circuit coupled between a first supply power rail having a first voltage and an output power rail coupled to at least one powered circuit;

a second supply selection circuit coupled between a second supply power rail having a second voltage and the output power rail;

the first supply selection circuit configured to selectively drive the first voltage at the first supply power rail to the output power rail at a first drive strength based on a first drive strength indicator to variably adjust the output impedance of the first supply selection circuit; and

the second supply selection circuit configured to selectively drive the second voltage at the second supply power rail to the output power rail at a second drive strength based on a second drive strength indicator to variably adjust the output impedance of the second supply selection circuit;

wherein the first supply selection circuit further comprises a diode drop control circuit configured to establish a first diode drop connection between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, in response to a supply power rail switch signal indicating a supply power rail switch enable state to switch from supplying power to the output power rail via the first supply selection circuit to supplying power via the second supply selection circuit while the first diode drop connection is established; and

at least one control circuit configured to;

receive a first supply power rail selection indicator indicating a first supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level less than a threshold voltage;

receive a second supply power rail selection indicator indicating a second supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level equal to or higher than the threshold voltage;

monitor an output voltage of the output power rail; and

in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state;

compare a voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a first reference voltage level associated with the first supply selection circuit; and

selectively generate the first drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the first reference voltage level; and

in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state;

compare the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a second reference voltage level associated with the second supply selection circuit; and

selectively generate the second drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the second reference voltage level.

2. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein:

the first supply selection circuit comprises a first power switch circuit coupled between the first supply power rail and the output power rail coupled to the at least one powered circuit, the first power switch circuit configured to;

receive the first drive strength indicator; and

selectively drive the first voltage at the first supply power rail to the output power rail at the first drive strength based on the first drive strength indicator; and

the second supply selection circuit comprises a second power switch circuit coupled between the second supply power rail and the output power rail, the second power switch circuit configured to;

receive the second drive strength indicator; and

selectively drive the second voltage at the second supply power rail to the output power rail at the second drive strength based on the second drive strength indicator.

3. The power multiplexing system of claim 2, wherein:

the first power switch circuit comprises a first plurality of power head switches each having an associated drive strength and coupled between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, each of the first plurality of power head switches configured to;

receive an associated first power switch selection signal of the first drive strength indicator; and

selectively drive the first voltage at the first supply power rail to the output power rail in response to the received associated first power switch selection signal; and

the second power switch circuit comprises a second plurality of power head switches each having an associated drive strength and coupled between the second supply power rail and the output power rail, each of the second plurality of power head switches configured to;

receive an associated second power switch selection signal of the second drive strength indicator; and

selectively drive the second voltage at the second supply power rail to the output power rail in response to the received associated second power switch selection signal.

4. The power multiplexing system of claim 3, wherein:

the first plurality of power head switches comprise a first plurality of transistors each comprising a first drain, a first source, and a first gate configured to receive the associated first power switch selection signal, each configured to drive the first voltage at the first supply power rail to the output power rail in response to a voltage of the associated first power switch selection signal applied to the first gate; and

the second plurality of power head switches comprise a second plurality of transistors each comprising a second drain, a second source, and a second gate configured to receive the associated second power switch selection signal, each configured to drive the second voltage at the second supply power rail to the output power rail in response to a voltage of the associated second power switch selection signal applied to the second gate.

5. The power multiplexing system of claim 3, further comprising a slow ramp circuit configured to:

in response to the received associated first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first power switch selection enable state;

receive the first drive strength indicator; and

control a ramping rate of the first drive strength indicator; and

in response to the received associated second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second power switch selection enable state;

receive the second drive strength indicator; and

control a ramping rate of the second drive strength indicator.

6. The power multiplexing system of claim 5, wherein the slow ramp circuit comprises:

a head switch control circuit configured to provide a drive strength indicator in response to the first power switch selection signal received on an enable input;

a head switch circuit configured to generate a ramp control signal to control providing the drive strength indicator by the head switch control circuit in response to the first power switch selection signal; and

a current sink circuit coupled to a slow ramp control input, the current sink circuit configured to control a ramping rate of the drive strength indicator.

7. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein the diode drop control circuit is further configured to disconnect the first diode drop connection between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating a supply power rail switch disable state.

8. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the first voltage being higher than the second voltage, the diode drop control circuit is further configured to maintain a voltage of a second threshold voltage below the first voltage at the output power rail, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating the supply power rail switch enable state.

9. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the first voltage being lower than the second voltage, the diode drop control circuit is further configured to prevent or reduce current flow from the output power rail to the first supply power rail, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating the supply power rail switch enable state.

10. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein, wherein the diode drop control circuit comprises:

a diode drop input coupled to a first power rail selection input of the first supply selection circuit;

a diode drop control input configured to receive the supply power rail switch signal; and

a diode drop output coupled to a first power output;

the diode drop control circuit configured to establish the first diode drop connection between the first power rail selection input and the first power output, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating the supply power rail switch enable state.

11. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises a first adaptive mode selection circuit configured to:

selectively provide the first drive strength indicator as a first bypass drive strength indicator in response to a first adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode disable state; and

selectively provide the first drive strength indicator as a first adaptive drive strength indicator in response to the first adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode enable state.

12. The power multiplexing system of claim 11, wherein the at least one control circuit further comprises a second adaptive mode selection circuit configured to:

selectively provide the second drive strength indicator as a second bypass drive strength indicator in response to a second adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode disable state; and

selectively provide the second drive strength indicator as a second adaptive drive strength indicator in response to the second adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode enable state.

13. The power multiplexing system of claim 11, wherein the first adaptive mode selection circuit comprises a first multiplexer circuit, comprising:

a first input configured to receive the first bypass drive strength indicator;

a second input configured to receive the first adaptive drive strength indicator;

a selection input configured to receive the first adaptive mode selection signal; and

an output configured to provide the first drive strength indicator;

the first multiplexer circuit configured to;

selectively provide the first bypass drive strength indicator from the first input to the output in response to the first adaptive mode selection signal from the selection input indicating the adaptive mode disable state; and

selectively provide the first adaptive drive strength indicator from the second input to the output in response to the first adaptive mode selection signal from the selection input indicating the adaptive mode enable state.

14. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises:

a comparator circuit configured to generate a comparison output signal indicative of a comparison in voltage level between the output voltage and a reference output voltage; and

a counter circuit configured to update a count value of a counter indicative of the voltage level based on the comparison output signal, and generate a drive strength indicator indicative of the voltage level of the output voltage;

the at least one control circuit configured to generate the first drive strength indicator comprising the drive strength indicator in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state.

15. The power multiplexing system of claim 14, wherein the at least one control circuit is further configured to generate the second drive strength indicator comprising a drive strength indicator in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state.

16. The power multiplexing system of claim 14, wherein the at least one control circuit further comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit configured to generate the reference output voltage based on a received code word.

17. The power multiplexing system of claim 14, wherein the counter circuit is further configured to update the count value of the counter in response to a received clock signal.

18. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control circuit comprises:

a first voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate a first control voltage at a first frequency based on a reference voltage;

a second VCO configured to generate a second control voltage at a second frequency based on the output voltage at the output power rail; and

a state machine circuit configured to;

generate the first drive strength indicator based on a comparison of the first frequency of the first control voltage to the second frequency of the second control voltage in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state.

19. The power multiplexing system of claim 18, wherein the state machine circuit is further configured to generate the second drive strength indicator based on a comparison of the first frequency of the first control voltage to the second frequency of the second control voltage in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state.

20. The power multiplexing system of claim 18, wherein the state machine circuit comprises a phase frequency detector.

21. The power multiplexing system of claim 1, wherein:

the first supply power rail comprises a memory supply power rail configured to receive a memory voltage as the first voltage from a memory power supply in a memory domain;

the second supply power rail comprises a logic supply power rail configured to receive a logic voltage as the second voltage from a logic power supply in a logic domain; and

the at least one powered circuit comprises at least one memory array;

the at least one control circuit is configured to;

receive the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating a first supply power rail selection enable state in response to the logic voltage being a voltage level less than the threshold voltage for data retention in the at least one memory array; and

receive the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating a second supply power rail selection enable state in response to the logic voltage being a voltage level equal to or higher the threshold voltage for data retention in the at least one memory array;

the first supply selection circuit is configured to selectively drive the memory voltage at the memory supply power rail to the output power rail at the first drive strength based on the first drive strength indicator; and

the second supply selection circuit is configured to selectively drive the logic voltage to the output power rail at the second drive strength based on the second drive strength indicator.

22. The power multiplexing system of claim 1 integrated into a system-on-a-chip (SoC).

23. The power multiplexing system of claim 1 integrated into a device selected from the group consisting of:

a set top box;

an entertainment unit;

a navigation device;

a communications device;

a fixed location data unit;

a mobile location data unit;

a global positioning system (GPS) device;

a mobile phone;

a cellular phone;

a smart phone;

a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone;

a tablet;

a phablet;

a server;

a computer;

a portable computer;

a mobile computing device;

a wearable computing device;

a desktop computer;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a monitor;

a computer monitor;

a television;

a tuner;

a radio;

a satellite radio;

a music player;

a digital music player;

a portable music player;

a digital video player;

a video player;

a digital video disc (DVD) player;

a portable digital video player;

an automobile;

a vehicle component;

avionics systems;

a drone; and

a multicopter.

24. A power multiplexing system, comprising:

a first supply means for selectively driving a first voltage at a first supply power rail to an output power rail at a first drive strength based on a first drive strength indicator;

a second supply means for selectively driving a second voltage at a second supply power rail to the output power rail at a second drive strength based on a second drive strength indicator;

a means for establishing a first diode drop connection between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, in response to a supply power rail switch signal indicating a supply power rail switch enable state to switch from supplying power to the output power rail via the first supply means to supplying power via the second supply means while the first diode drop connection is established;

a means for receiving a first supply power rail selection indicator indicating a first supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level less than a threshold voltage;

a means for receiving a second supply power rail selection indicator indicating a second supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level equal to or higher than the threshold voltage;

a means for monitoring an output voltage of the output power rail;

a means for comparing a voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a first reference voltage level associated with a first supply selection circuit, in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state;

a means for selectively generating the first drive strength indicator based on the means for comparing the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the first reference voltage level, in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state;

a means for comparing the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a second reference voltage level associated with a second supply selection circuit in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state; and

a means for selectively generating the second drive strength indicator based on the means for comparing the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the second reference voltage level in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state.

25. A method of adaptively controlling drive strength of multiplexed power from supply power rails in a power multiplexing circuit to a powered circuit, comprising:

monitoring an output voltage of an output power rail;

in response to a first supply power rail selection indicator indicating a first supply power rail selection enable state;

comparing a voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a first reference voltage level associated with a first supply selection circuit;

selectively generating a first drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the first reference voltage level; and

selectively driving a first voltage at a first supply power rail to the output power rail via a first supply selection circuit at a first drive strength based on the first drive strength indicator variably adjusting the output impedance of the first supply selection circuit;

in response to a second supply power rail selection indicator indicating a second supply power rail selection enable state;

comparing the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to a second reference voltage level associated with a second supply selection circuit;

selectively generating a second drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the second reference voltage level; and

selectively driving a second voltage at a second supply power rail to the output power rail via a second supply selection circuit at a second drive strength based on the second drive strength indicator variably adjusting the output impedance of the second supply selection circuit;

generating the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level less than a threshold voltage;

generating the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state in response to the second voltage being a voltage level equal to or higher than the threshold voltage; and

establishing a diode drop connection between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, in response to a supply power rail switch signal indicating a supply power rail switch enable state to switch from supplying power to the output power rail via the first supply selection circuit to supplying power via the second supply selecting circuit while the first diode drop connection is established.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

selectively driving the first voltage at the first supply power rail comprises selectively driving one or more power head switches of a first plurality of power head switches each having an associated drive strength and coupled between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, based on the first drive strength indicator; and

selectively driving the second voltage at the second supply power rail comprises selectively driving one or more power head switches of a second plurality of power head switches each having an associated drive strength and coupled between the second supply power rail and the output power rail, based on the second drive strength indicator.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

generating a ramp control signal to control providing a drive strength indicator in response to a first power switch selection signal; and

controlling a ramping rate of the drive strength indicator.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising disconnecting the diode drop connection between the first supply power rail and the output power rail, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating a supply power rail switch disable state.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising maintaining a voltage of a second threshold voltage below the first voltage at the output power rail for the diode drop connection, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating the supply power rail switch enable state, and in response to the first voltage being higher than the second voltage.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising preventing or reducing current flow from the output power rail to the first supply power rail, in response to the supply power rail switch signal indicating the supply power rail switch enable state, and in response to the first voltage being lower than the second voltage.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

selectively providing the first drive strength indicator as a first bypass drive strength indicator in response to a first adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode disable state; and

selectively providing the first drive strength indicator as a first adaptive drive strength indicator in response to the first adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode enable state.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

selectively providing the second drive strength indicator as a second bypass drive strength indicator in response to a second adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode disable state; and

selectively providing the second drive strength indicator as a second adaptive drive strength indicator in response to the second adaptive mode selection signal indicating an adaptive mode enable state.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein selectively generating the first drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the first reference voltage level, comprises:

generating a comparison output signal indicative of a comparison in voltage level between the output voltage and a reference output voltage;

updating a count value of a counter indicative of the voltage level based on the comparison output signal;

generating a drive strength indicator indicative of the voltage level of the output voltage; and

generating the first drive strength indicator comprising the drive strength indicator in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein selectively generating the second drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the second reference voltage level, comprises:

generating a comparison output signal indicative of the comparison in voltage level between the output voltage and a reference output voltage; and

updating a count value of a counter indicative of the voltage level based on the comparison output signal;

generating a second power rail drive strength indicator indicative of the voltage level of the output voltage; and

generating the second drive strength indicator comprising the drive strength indicator in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein selectively generating the first drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the voltage level of the output voltage at the output power rail to the first reference voltage level comprises:

generating a first control voltage at a first frequency based on a reference voltage;

generating a second control voltage at a second frequency based on the output voltage at the output power rail; and

generating the first drive strength indicator based on a comparison of the first frequency of the first control voltage to the second frequency of the second control voltage in response to the first supply power rail selection indicator indicating the first supply power rail selection enable state.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising generating the second drive strength indicator based on the comparison of the first frequency of the first control voltage to the second frequency of the second control voltage in response to the second supply power rail selection indicator indicating the second supply power rail selection enable state.