Voltage supply control device and method

• US 20060220592A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank Praemassing, Jens Barrenscheen
• Original Assignee: Frank Praemassing, Jens Barrenscheen
• Inventors: Praemassing, Frank, Barrenscheen, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a voltage supply control device, as well as a process for the control of the voltage supply of a semiconductor component, which can be operated in at least two different voltage supply modes. The process includes detecting the level of a voltage present at an output connection, which in one case is, a voltage output connection of the semiconductor component. The process also includes operating the semiconductor component in the first or second voltage supply mode, depending on the result of the detection.

Claims

1. A process for controlling the voltage supply of a semiconductor component that can be operated in at least two different voltage supply modes, the process comprising:

detecting the level of a voltage present at an output connection of the semiconductor component; and

operating the semiconductor component in one of a first and a second voltage supply modes, depending on the result of the detection.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein in the first voltage supply mode, the output connection of the semiconductor component is used by the semiconductor component for the emission of a control signal.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the first voltage supply mode is a mode in which a voltage tracking device, provided externally to the semiconductor component, is used for the voltage supply of the semiconductor component.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the control signal emitted by the semiconductor component during the first voltage supply mode at the output connection of the semiconductor component is used for the control of the voltage tracking device.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor component is operated in the first voltage supply mode when it is detected during step that the voltage at the output connection is lower than a predetermined threshold value.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor component is operated in the second voltage supply mode when it is detected that the voltage at the output connection is higher than a predetermined threshold value.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the second voltage supply mode is a mode in which a voltage generating device internally provided on the semiconductor component is used for the voltage supply of the semiconductor component.

8. The process of claim 3, wherein a voltage input connection of the semiconductor component, is connected with an output connection of the voltage tracking device during the first voltage supply mode.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the voltage output connection of the semiconductor component is connected with a further voltage input connection of the semiconductor component during the second voltage supply mode.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor component can be operated in three or more different voltage supply modes.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the third voltage supply mode is a mode in which a voltage regulator, provided externally to the semiconductor component and independent of it, is used for the voltage supply of the semiconductor component.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the voltage input connection of the semiconductor component is connected with the voltage output connection of the semiconductor component during the third voltage supply mode.

13. The process of claim 9, wherein the level of the voltage at the voltage output connection of the semiconductor component is only detected once the voltage present at the further voltage input connection of the semiconductor component, lies within predetermined range.

14. The process of claim 9, wherein the semiconductor component is only brought into the second voltage supply mode, once the voltage present at the further voltage input connection of the semiconductor component, lies within a predetermined range.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein the detection result received is stored in a register.

16. A voltage supply control device compring:

means for detecting the level of a voltage present at a voltage output connection of a semiconductor component; and

means for activating and deactivating a voltage generating device internally provided on the semiconductor component, depending on the result of the detection.

17. The voltage supply control device of claim 16, wherein the semiconductor component is operated in one of a first and second voltage supply modes depending on the result of the detection.

18. The voltage supply control device of claim 16, wherein in the first voltage supply mode, an output connection of the semiconductor component is used by the semiconductor component for the emission of a control signal.

19. The voltage supply control device of claim 16, wherein the first voltage supply mode is a mode in which a voltage tracking device, provided externally to the semiconductor component, is used for the voltage supply of the semiconductor component.

20. The voltage supply control device of claim 18, wherein a control signal emitted by the semiconductor component during the first voltage supply mode at the output connection of the semiconductor component is used for the control of the voltage tracking device.