LOW-POWER OPERATION FOR DEVICES WITH CIRCUITRY FOR PROVIDING REFERENCE OR REGULATED VOLTAGES
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a device comprising a voltage regulator;
an energy storage component connected to the device;
a switch coupled between an output of the voltage regulator and the energy storage component, wherein the switch is operable to be opened and closed; and
a controller arranged to provide control signals to the voltage regulator and the switch, wherein the voltage regulator is operable in a first mode in which, at specified times, the voltage regulator is turned off and the switch is opened, wherein, while the switch is open, the energy storage component provides energy to the device, and wherein in the first mode the controller periodically causes the switch to close and enables the voltage regulator to perform voltage regulation operations to restore energy to the energy storage component.
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Abstract
A device includes a voltage regulator and/or circuitry for generating a reference voltage. The voltage regulator and the circuitry for generating the reference voltage are operable in a continuous mode or a sample mode. Operating in the sample mode can help reduce overall power consumption of the device. During the sample mode, the voltage regulator and/or the circuitry for generating the reference voltage periodically are enabled to restore energy to respective energy storage components (e.g., capacitors).
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a device comprising a voltage regulator; an energy storage component connected to the device; a switch coupled between an output of the voltage regulator and the energy storage component, wherein the switch is operable to be opened and closed; and a controller arranged to provide control signals to the voltage regulator and the switch, wherein the voltage regulator is operable in a first mode in which, at specified times, the voltage regulator is turned off and the switch is opened, wherein, while the switch is open, the energy storage component provides energy to the device, and wherein in the first mode the controller periodically causes the switch to close and enables the voltage regulator to perform voltage regulation operations to restore energy to the energy storage component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a device comprising a voltage regulator, the method comprising:
operating the voltage regulator in a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode includes; at specified times, turning off the voltage regulator and opening a switch coupled between an output of the voltage regulator and an energy storage component coupled to the device, wherein, while the switch is open, the energy storage component provides energy to the device; and periodically causing the switch to close and enabling the voltage regulator to perform voltage regulation operations to restore energy to the energy storage component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a device comprising a voltage regulator; an input/output pin for connection to an external capacitor, wherein the input/output pin is coupled to other components of the device; a switch for coupling an output of the voltage regulator to the input/output pin, wherein the switch is operable to be opened and closed; and a controller arranged to provide control signals to the voltage regulator and the switch, wherein the voltage regulator is operable in a first mode in which, at specified times, the voltage regulator is turned off and the switch is opened, and wherein in the first mode the controller periodically causes the switch to close and enables the voltage regulator to perform voltage regulation operations. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a device comprising circuitry to generate a reference voltage; an energy storage component; a buffer coupled between an output of the circuitry and the energy storage component; and a controller arranged to provide control signals to the circuitry and the buffer, wherein the circuitry is operable in a first mode in which, at specified times, the circuitry and the buffer are turned off, wherein, while the buffer is not driving the energy storage component, the energy storage component provides energy to the device, and wherein in the first mode, the controller periodically enables the circuitry to generate the reference voltage and causes the buffer to drive the energy storage component so that energy is restored to the energy storage component. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a device comprising circuitry for generating a reference voltage, the method comprising:
operating the circuitry in a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode includes; at specified times, turning off the circuitry and a buffer that is coupled between an output of the circuitry and an energy storage component, wherein, while the buffer is not driving the energy storage component, the energy storage component provides energy to the device; and periodically enabling the circuitry to generate the reference voltage and causing the buffer to drive the energy storage component so that energy is restored to the energy storage component.
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26. The method of claim 26 including operating the circuitry in a second mode, wherein operating in the second mode includes:
enabling the circuitry to generate the reference voltage continuously and causing the buffer to drive the energy storage component. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
Specification