Microprocessor die with integrated voltage regulation control circuit

• US 20090195228A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edward P. Osburn, Jeffrey A. Carlson
• Inventors: Carlson, Jeffrey A., Osburn, Edward P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,906,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/272
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

An integrated circuit die includes a microprocessor and a control circuit to control elements of a voltage regulator to supply power to the microprocessor.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit (IC) die, comprising:

a processor; and

a control circuit to control elements of a voltage regulator to supply power to the processor, wherein

the processor includes at least one monitoring point on the IC die,

the control circuit includes a respective sensor at one or more of the at least one monitoring points,

the respective sensors are configured to monitor circuit activity at the respective monitoring points,

and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the elements of the voltage regulator at least in part based on information from the sensors.

2. The integrated circuit die of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective sensors is configured to monitor a frequency of a signal at the respective monitoring point.

3. The integrated circuit die of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective sensors is configured to monitor instruction activity at the respective monitoring point.

4. The integrated circuit die of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective sensors is configured to monitor dispatch rates at the respective monitoring point.

5. The integrated circuit die of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective sensors is configured to monitor pipeline activity at the respective monitoring point.

6. The integrated circuit die of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective sensors is configured to read a register of the processor on the IC die.

7. The integrated circuit die of claim 6, wherein the sensor configured to read a register of the processor on the IC die comprises a digital comparator.