Integrated voltage/current/power regulator/switch system and method
First Claim
1. An integrated voltage/current/power regulator/switch system comprising:
- (a) one or more integrated pass device(s) having one or more metalized base plate(s);
(b) a foundation integrated circuit (FIC) having one or more metalized power interconnection layer(s);
(c) one or more insulating layer(s) between said pass device(s) and said foundation integrated circuit; and
(d) one or more substantially vertical metal interconnect(s);
wherein said integrated pass device is proximal to and placed vertical to said foundation integrated circuit;
said vertical metal interconnect(s) connects said metalized power interconnection layer(s) to said metalized base plate(s); and
said integrated pass device regulates and/or switches power to said metalized power interconnection layer(s) via said vertical metal interconnect(s) through said metalized base plate(s).
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Abstract
An integrated voltage/current/power regulator/switch (VCPRS) system and method are disclosed in which regulator/switch circuitry is vertically integrated on top of an existing integrated circuit. The present invention does not require additional integrated circuit chip area for the regulator pass device as is required in the prior art, and by virtue of its construction provides a significantly reduced on-resistance as compared to all prior art implementations. The present invention both stabilizes the power supply for large area integrated circuits and permits individual areas of the integrated circuit to have switched power capability, a highly desirable feature in low power and battery power applications. The present invention permits an increase in the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) for digital, analog, and especially mixed-signal integrated circuit designs by permitting various circuit blocks to have localized power regulation that is obtained from a common power supply plane within the integrated circuit framework. Finally, the present invention appears to be the only economically practical method of addressing the power supply regulation requirements of modern and future integrated microprocessor designs.
156 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated voltage/current/power regulator/switch system comprising:
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(a) one or more integrated pass device(s) having one or more metalized base plate(s);
(b) a foundation integrated circuit (FIC) having one or more metalized power interconnection layer(s);
(c) one or more insulating layer(s) between said pass device(s) and said foundation integrated circuit; and
(d) one or more substantially vertical metal interconnect(s);
wherein said integrated pass device is proximal to and placed vertical to said foundation integrated circuit;
said vertical metal interconnect(s) connects said metalized power interconnection layer(s) to said metalized base plate(s); and
said integrated pass device regulates and/or switches power to said metalized power interconnection layer(s) via said vertical metal interconnect(s) through said metalized base plate(s). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An integrated voltage/current/power regulator/switch method comprising:
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(a) fabricating a foundation integrated circuit (FIC);
(b) forming an insulating layer on said FIC &
optionally planarizing said insulating layer;
(c) printing a mask for power supply contacts on said FIC;
(d) optionally forming a barrier and/or adhesion layer film on said FIC power supply contacts;
(e) forming a conductive material over said power supply contacts to fill void(s) and create substantially vertical interconnect(s);
(f) continuing to form a conductive material over said insulating layer and said filled void(s) to create a metalized base plate and/or power supply backplane;
(g) aligning/exposing/etching said metalized base plate to create regulator/switch islands;
(h) filling voids between said islands with an insulating material; and
(i) fabricating a regulator/switch on top of said regulator/switch islands. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An integrated circuit system comprising:
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(a) a foundation integrated circuit (FIC) comprising analog and/or digital circuitry having a clock input;
(b) a system clock generator having clock output;
(c) a delay generator having input and output;
(d) an optional divider/integrator having input and output;
(e) an anticipatory switching and/or linear regulator subsystem having clock input and regulated output;
wherein said system clock generator output is connected to said input of said delay generator and to said input of said optional divider/integrator;
said output of said delay generator is connected to said clock input of said analog and/or digital circuitry of said FIC;
said output of said optional divider/integrator is connected to said clock input of said anticipatory switching and/or linear regulator subsystem;
said power output of said anticipatory switching and/or linear regulator subsystem provides power to said FIC; and
said anticipatory switching and/or linear regulator subsystem modulates said power output in response to and/or in anticipation of said clock input.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeKevin Mark Klughart
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Original AssigneeKevin Mark Klughart
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InventorsKlughart, Kevin Mark
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Primary Examiner(s)Clark, Sheila V.
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Application NumberUS09/809,611Time in Patent Office439 DaysField of Search257/691,723,724,401,341,207,763,764,765 438/107 307/125,126,130,131US Class Current257/691CPC Class CodesH01L 25/16 the devices being of types ...H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrange...H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of g...H01L 2924/3011 ImpedanceH02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g...
