Systems, circuits and methods for mixed voltages and programmable voltage rails on integrated circuits

• US 5,734,919 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Walsh, James J., Bridgwater, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dzung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/705,918
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/750, 364/DIG. 1, 365/63, 365/185.13, 365/189.05, 365/226, 365/185.15
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

An integrated circuit (110) includes, on a single chip, distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors connected respectively thereto, including a ground terminal (GND) and terminals for first and second supply voltages (VCC3, VCC5), and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage (VCCDK) and also has a power-good terminal (PWRGOOD5). A plurality of peripheral control circuits (910, 938, 932) are connected by an on-chip internal bus (904). The peripheral control circuits (910, 938, 932) connect to different ones of the internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on the first and second supply voltages (VCC3, VCC5), and the selectable supply voltage (VCCDK). Reset circuitry (2390) is provided for at least one of the peripheral control circuits. A control latch (PMU_-- CNTRL) has a bit (VCCDRV5V) to which the reset circuitry (2390) is responsive. The reset circuitry (2390) provides resets for the at least one of the peripheral control circuits (IDERST, FDDRST) as a function of a voltage at the power-good terminal (PWRGOOD5). Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a power supply having a ground, and first and second supply voltage conductors, and having a power good output; and

a peripheral control chip including;

distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors coupled respectively thereto, including a ground terminal coupled to said power supply ground and terminals for first and second supply voltages coupled to said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors, and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage coupled to said power supply;

a power-good terminal coupled to said power supply power-good output;

a plurality of peripheral control circuits and an on-chip internal bus coupling said plurality of peripheral control circuits, said peripheral control circuits coupled to different ones of said internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on said first and second supply voltages, and said selectable supply voltage wherein a selectable voltage is provided to peripherals coupled to said peripheral control circuits that are coupled to said selectable supply voltage;

reset circuitry for at least one of said peripheral control circuits; and

a control latch having a bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for said at least one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.

2. The computer system claimed in claim 1 further comprising a supply voltage selecting device connected between said selectable supply voltage terminal of said peripheral control chip and said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said peripheral control circuits is a control interface for a disk drive, and said resets are provided for said control interface for a disk drive.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said supply voltages include an approximately three volt supply voltage and an approximately five volt supply voltage.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said selectable supply voltage includes a selectable approximately three volts and approximately five volts.

6. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising an external-to-internal bus interface connected to said first supply voltage terminal, and wherein said peripheral control circuits include a parallel port connected to said second supply voltage terminal, and also include a disk drive control interface connected said selectable supply voltage terminal.

7. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a second control latch having a second bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for a second one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein said reset circuitry provides resets to a hard disk drive control circuit and to a floppy disk drive control circuit responsive to controls by said first and said second bit respectively.

9. A personal computer comprising:

an input device;

a memory;

a display;

a power supply having a ground, and first and second supply voltage conductors, and having a power good output;

a first integrated circuit having a microprocessor coupled to said input device, said memory, and said display; and

a second integrated circuit coupled to said microprocessor, said second integrated circuit including;

distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors coupled respectively thereto, including a ground terminal coupled to said power supply ground and terminals for first and second supply voltages coupled to said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors, and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage coupled to said power supply;

a power-good terminal coupled to said power supply power-good output;

a plurality of peripheral control circuits and an on-chip internal bus coupling said plurality of peripheral control circuits, said peripheral control circuits coupled to different ones of said internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on said first and second supply voltages, and said selectable supply voltage wherein a selectable voltage is provided to peripherals coupled to said peripheral control circuits that are coupled to said selectable supply voltage;

reset circuitry for at least one of said peripheral control circuits; and

a control latch having a bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for said at least one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.

10. The personal computer claimed in claim 9 further comprising a supply voltage selecting device connected between said selectable supply voltage terminal of said peripheral control chip and said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors.

11. The personal computer of claim 9 further comprising an external-to-internal bus interface connected to said first supply voltage terminal, and wherein said peripheral control circuits include a parallel port connected to said second supply voltage terminal, and also include a disk drive control interface connected said selectable supply voltage terminal.

12. The personal computer of claim 9 further comprising a second control latch having a second bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for a second one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.

13. The personal computer of claim 12 wherein said reset circuitry provides resets to a hard disk drive control circuit and to a floppy disk drive control circuit responsive to controls by said first and said second bit respectively.

14. A personal computer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said input device includes a keyboard.

15. A personal computer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said display includes a CRT.

16. A personal computer as claimed in claim 9 wherein the personal computer has the form of a notebook computer.

17. An electronic wiring board article of manufacture comprising:

a printed wiring board having a substantially insulative planar board element and conductors in or on said board element;

a power supply attached to said printed wiring board having a ground, and first and second supply voltage conductors, and having a power good output;

a first integrated circuit attached to said printed wiring board and having a microprocessor;

a second integrated circuit coupled to said microprocessor and attached to said printed wiring board said second integrated circuit having;

distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors coupled respectively thereto, including a ground terminal coupled to said power supply ground and terminals for first and second supply voltages coupled to said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors, and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage coupled to said power supply;

a power-good terminal coupled to said power supply power-good output;

a plurality of peripheral control circuits and an on-chip internal bus coupling said plurality of peripheral control circuits, said peripheral control circuits coupled to different ones of said internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on said first and second supply voltages, and said selectable supply voltage wherein a selectable voltage is provided to peripherals coupled to said peripheral control circuits that are coupled to said selectable supply voltage;

reset circuitry for at least one of said peripheral control circuits; and

a control latch having a bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for said at least one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.

18. An electronic circuit comprising:

a power supply having a ground, and first and second supply voltage conductors, and having a power good output;

first circuitry having a microprocessor;

second circuitry, coupled to said microprocessor, having;

distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors coupled respectively thereto, including a ground terminal coupled to said power supply ground and terminals for first and second supply voltages coupled to said power supply first and second supply voltage conductors, and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage coupled to said power supply;

a power-good terminal coupled to said power supply power-good output;

a plurality of peripheral control circuits and an on-chip internal bus coupling said plurality of peripheral control circuits, said peripheral control circuits coupled to different ones of said internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on said first and second supply voltages, and said selectable supply voltage wherein a selectable voltage is provided to peripherals coupled to said peripheral control circuits that are coupled to said selectable supply voltage;

reset circuitry for at least one of said peripheral control circuits; and

a control latch having a bit to which said reset circuitry is responsive, said reset circuitry providing resets for said at least one of said peripheral control circuits as a function of a voltage at said power-good terminal.