Apparatus for providing regulated power to an integrated circuit

• US 6,670,795 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Primarion Incorporated (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Pohlman, William, Eisele, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/136,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20020121884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 323/271, 323/272, 323/273, 323/274
• US Class Current: 323/272
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/46 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc G05F1/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components

Abstract

A regulator system for supplying power to a microelectronic device is disclosed. The system includes an array of a plurality of regulators, where each regulator provides a portion of power required to operate the device. The system may further include an intermediate power regulator that supplies power to the array of regulators.

Claims

1. A microelectronic power regulation system comprising:

a first power switching regulator configured to provide operating power to at least a portion of a microelectronic device; and

a second power regulator coupled to the microelectronic device and the first power switching regulator, the second regulator configured to provide power to a first portion of the microelectronic device at a speed of about 500 MHz or more.

2. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the first power regulator supplies power to a second portion of the microelectronic device.

3. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the second power regulator comprises an array of regulators coupled in parallel between the first power regulator and the microelectronic device.

4. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the second power regulator comprises a transistor and an error amplifier.

5. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the second power regulator is coupled to the microelectronic device using conductive bump technology.

6. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the second power regulator comprises compound semiconductor material.

7. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the second power regulator comprises silicon germanium.

8. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 1, wherein the first power switching regulator comprises a switching regulator configured to provide power to a microelectronic device at a current of more than about 30 amps.

9. A microelectronic power regulation system comprising:

a microprocessor;

a first power regulator configured to supply power to the microprocessor; and

a second power regulator coupled to the microprocessor and the first power regulator, the second regulator configured to supply power to the microprocessor at a speed of about 500 MHz or more.

10. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 9, wherein the first power regulator is configured to provide operating power to the microprocessor.

11. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 9, wherein the second power regulator comprises an array of power devices.

12. The microelectronic power regulation system of claims 9, wherein the second power regulator comprises a compound semiconductor material.

13. The microelectronic power regulation system of claim 9, wherein the second power regulator comprises silicon germanium.