Method and apparatus for regulating the voltage supplied to an integrated circuit
First Claim
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1. A method for regulating a voltage supplied by a power supply to an integrated circuit comprising:
- sending a first signal to the power supply to signify that current drawn by the integrated circuit from the power supply will increase;
raising the voltage supplied by the power supply to the integrated circuit, in response to the first signal, before the current increases, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient;
sending a second signal to the power supply to signify that current drawn by the integrated circuit from the power supply will decrease; and
lowering the voltage supplied by the power supply to the integrated circuit, in response to the second signal, before the current decreases, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for regulating a voltage supplied by a power supply to an integrated circuit. A signal is sent to the power supply. This signal signifies that a change in the current drawn by the integrated circuit from the power supply will occur. Next, the voltage supplied by the power supply to the integrated circuit is adjusted in response to this signal before the change in current occurs. The adjustment is in a direction that will compensate for the anticipated voltage transient that will result from the change in the current.
105 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for regulating a voltage supplied by a power supply to an integrated circuit comprising:
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sending a first signal to the power supply to signify that current drawn by the integrated circuit from the power supply will increase; raising the voltage supplied by the power supply to the integrated circuit, in response to the first signal, before the current increases, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient; sending a second signal to the power supply to signify that current drawn by the integrated circuit from the power supply will decrease; and lowering the voltage supplied by the power supply to the integrated circuit, in response to the second signal, before the current decreases, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for regulating a voltage supplied by a power supply to a processor within a computer system comprising:
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sending a first signal to the power supply to signify that the processor will switch from a sleep mode to a wake mode; raising the voltage supplied by the power supply to the processor, in response to the first signal, before the processor switches from the sleep mode to the wake mode, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient sending a second signal to the power supply to signify that the processor will switch from a wake mode to a sleep mode; and lowering the voltage supplied by the power supply to the processor, in response to the second signal, before the processor switches from the wake mode to the sleep mode, to compensate for an anticipated voltage transient. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system comprising:
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a processor to switch between a sleep mode and a wake mode in response to a first signal; a transistor having a gate and a source/drain region, the gate to receive the first or a second signal; and a power supply coupled to the source/drain region, of the transistor and supplying a supply voltage to the processor, the power supply to adjust the supply voltage by raising the supply voltage before the processor switches from the sleep mode to the wake mode, and lowering the supply voltage before the processor switches from the wake mode to the sleep mode in response to the first or second signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification