Programmable bandwidth voltage regulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. The electronic system comprising:
- at least one component capable of operating at either of at least two power consumption levels, having a power supply input, and a control input;
a control device for detecting that the component is to start and stop being accessed prior to the component being accessed based on an access signal, the control device having an access signal input, a first control output coupled to the control input of the component for signaling the component to switch from one power consumption level to another power consumption level, and a second control output for producing a control signal responsive to the access signal;
a power supply including;
a voltage regulator capable of operating with two or more bandwidths comprising;
a first input coupled to a power source;
a second input coupled to the second control output for receiving the control signal the voltage regulator switches from one bandwidth to another bandwidth responsive to the control signal received at the second input; and
,an output coupled to the power supply input of the component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for reducing the transient response time of a voltage regulator when the load attached to it is entering or exiting a lower power consumption level by changing the bandwidth of the voltage regulator without compromising its stability, and a bandwidth regulator for implementing such a method are disclosed, wherein the bandwidth of the voltage regulator is changed based on a signal sent by a control device when it senses that the component is about to change power consumption levels.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. The electronic system comprising:
-
at least one component capable of operating at either of at least two power consumption levels, having a power supply input, and a control input; a control device for detecting that the component is to start and stop being accessed prior to the component being accessed based on an access signal, the control device having an access signal input, a first control output coupled to the control input of the component for signaling the component to switch from one power consumption level to another power consumption level, and a second control output for producing a control signal responsive to the access signal; a power supply including; a voltage regulator capable of operating with two or more bandwidths comprising; a first input coupled to a power source; a second input coupled to the second control output for receiving the control signal the voltage regulator switches from one bandwidth to another bandwidth responsive to the control signal received at the second input; and
,an output coupled to the power supply input of the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
11. A voltage regulator capable of operating with two or more bandwidths comprising:
-
a first input; an output coupled to a dynamic load capable of operating at either of at least two power consumption levels responsive to an access signal; a second input for receiving a control signal for switching the operation of the voltage regulator from one bandwidth to another bandwidth; and a regulating means coupled to the second input for changing the bandwidth of the voltage regulator responsive to the control signal, wherein the control signal is responsive to the access signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer comprising:
-
a voltage regulator capable of operating with two or more bandwidths comprising a first input, a second input, an output, and a regulating means coupled to the second input for stabilizing the voltage regulator by switching from one bandwidth to another bandwidth responsive to a control signal; a dynamic load, having a power supply input coupled to the output, and a control input, the dynamic load capable of operating at either of at least two levels of power consumption; and
,a control device for detecting changes in operating conditions of the computer, and having a first control output coupled to said control input of the dynamic load, and a second control output coupled to said second input of said voltage regulator; wherein said regulating means changes the bandwidth of said voltage regulator responsive to the control device detecting the dynamic load is going to start and stop being accessed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
21. The computer of clahn 18, wherein the regulating means comprises a first analog switch for bypassing a first compensation capacitor of said voltage regulator when said regulating means is changing the bandwidth of said voltage regulator.
-
25. A method for regulating the voltage of an electronic system having a voltage regulator and at least one component capable of operating at either of at least two levels of power consumption, the component having a power supply input coupled to an output of the voltage regulator, comprising:
-
detecting that the component is about to start and stop being accessed; changing the bandwidth of the voltage regulator from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth responsive to detecting that the component is about to start and stop being accessed; changing the level of power consumption of the component from a first power consumption level to a second power consumption level. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification