SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY REGULATING VOLTAGE TO MINIMIZE POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20110065399A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Brent, Odland, Michael Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

A system includes a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation. The second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level. A control processor provides control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation. A component associated with the voltage regulator. The component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation. The control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation, wherein the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level;

a control processor for providing control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation;

a component associated with the voltage regulator, wherein the component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation; and

wherein the control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is disabled by the control signals of the control processor in the second mode of operation and the voltage at the at least one second level comprises a source voltage provided by the voltage source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator generates the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation responsive to a source voltage of the voltage source, wherein the voltage at the first level is lower than the source voltage.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator boosts a source voltage of the voltage source to the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the component comprises an RF transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is integrated within the control processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first level comprises 1.8V and the at least one second level comprises 3.6V.

8. A system, comprising:

a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a 1.8V level in a first mode of operation and at a 3.6V level in a second mode of operation;

a control processor for providing control signals to select between the 1.8V level and the 3.6V level modes of operation;

an RF transmitter associated with the voltage regulator, wherein the component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation; and

wherein the control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the 1.8V level in the first mode of operation when the RF transmitter is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the 3.6V level in the second mode of operation when the RF transmitter is enabled.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator is disabled by the control signals of the control processor in the second mode of operation and the voltage at the 3.6V level comprises a source voltage provided by the voltage source.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator generates the voltage at the 1.8V level in the first mode of operation responsive to a source voltage of the voltage source, wherein the voltage at the 1.8V level is lower than the source voltage.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator boosts a source voltage of the voltage source to the voltage at the 3.6V level in the second mode of operation.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator is integrated within the control processor.

13. A method for dynamically controlling a system voltage, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a component is disabled in the first mode of operation or enabled in the second mode of operation;

determining voltage needs of a system based upon whether the component is enabled or disabled;

generating control signals to provide the voltage needs of the system;

providing a regulated voltage at a first level in the first mode of operation responsive to the control signals; and

providing a regulated voltage at least one second level in the second mode of operation responsive to the control signals, wherein the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the regulated voltage at the at least one second level further comprises the steps of:

disabling a voltage regulator providing the regulated voltage responsive to the control signals in the second mode of operation; and

providing the regulated voltage at the at least one second level from a source voltage provided by the voltage source.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the regulated voltage at the first voltage level further comprises the steps of regulating a source voltage from a voltage source to the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation, wherein the voltage at the first level is lower than the source voltage.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the regulated voltage at the at least one second level further comprises the steps of boosting a source voltage of a voltage source to the regulated voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation.