Power savings in a voltage supply controlled according to a work capability operating mode of an integrated circuit
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a switching voltage regulator coupled between a power supply node and power return node, capable of repeatedly opening and closing (1) a first low impedance path between an output node and the power supply node and (2) a second low impedance path between the output node and the power return node, to regulate a voltage of the output node;
an integrated circuit (IC) having a supply voltage input coupled to the output node; and
means for closing the second path but not the first path under control of a first signal that indicates a work capability mode of the integrated circuit.
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Abstract
Power is applied to a voltage supply. A signal that indicates reduced work capability in an integrated circuit (IC) that is being powered by the voltage supply is generated based on workload demand or conscious power and performance tradeoffs. This signal is applied to increase the power efficiency of the voltage supply, while the supply is powering the IC in its reduced work capability state.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a switching voltage regulator coupled between a power supply node and power return node, capable of repeatedly opening and closing (1) a first low impedance path between an output node and the power supply node and (2) a second low impedance path between the output node and the power return node, to regulate a voltage of the output node;
an integrated circuit (IC) having a supply voltage input coupled to the output node; and
means for closing the second path but not the first path under control of a first signal that indicates a work capability mode of the integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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applying power to a switching voltage regulator;
generating a first digital signal that indicates a state of reduced work capability in an integrated circuit (IC) that is being powered by the switching regulator; and
using the first signal to reduce leakage current in the regulator while the regulator is powering the IC in the reduced work capability state, wherein the leakage current is reduced by cutting off a low impedance path through a power switching device of the regulator, while the first signal remains asserted, using a lower leakage power switching device in series with the path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
generating a second digital signal that indicates a further state of reduced work capability in the IC; and
generating a third digital signal that indicates a further state of reduced work capability in the IC;
wherein said reduction in leakage current is performed in response to any one of the first, second and third signals being asserted, while the regulator is powering the IC in the respective state.
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13. The method of claim 10 wherein the reduced work capability state is a sleep state, and the first digital signal is generated in response to the IC entering the sleep state following a power management routine being executed to reduce power consumption in a system of which the IC is a part.
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14. A system comprising:
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a printed wiring board having signal and power lines;
a step down switching voltage regulator installed on the board, coupled to the signal and power lines, and coupled between a power supply node and a power return node, the regulator having a driver stage coupled to drive (1) a first switching power device that can provide a first low impedance path between an output node and the power supply node and (2) a second switching power device that can provide a second low impedance path between the output node and the power return node;
an integrated circuit (IC) installed on the board, coupled to the signal and power lines, and having a supply voltage input coupled to the output node, wherein the voltage regulator further includes a gate circuit coupled between an output of the driver stage and a control electrode of the second switching power device, the gate circuit being under the control of a first digital signal that, when asserted, indicates the IC is operating in a reduced work capability mode; and
a main power supply that is coupled to supply power to the regulator via the power supply and return nodes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a switching voltage regulator having synchronous and non-synchronous operation capabilities; and
an integrated circuit (IC) to receive a supply voltage from the regulator, and to provide a signal that indicates a reduced work capability state of the IC and selects said non-synchronous operation in the regulator when the regulator is to power the IC in the reduced work capability state.
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21. An apparatus comprising:
a switching voltage regulator coupled between a power supply node and a power return node, the regulator having a driver stage coupled to drive (1) a first switching power device that can provide a first low impedance path between an output node and the power supply node and (2) a second switching power device that can provide a second low impedance path between the output node and the power return node, and an integrated circuit (IC) having a supply voltage input coupled to the output node, wherein the voltage regulator further includes a third switching power device coupled in the second path to close the second path under control of a first signal that indicates work capability of the IC. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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applying power to a switching voltage regulator;
generating a first digital signal that indicates a state of reduced work capability in an integrated circuit (IC) that is being powered by the switching regulator; and
using the first signal to reduce transistor switching loss in the regulator while the regulator is powering the IC in the reduced work capability state, wherein the transistor switching loss is reduced by preventing a power switching device of the regulator from being switched while the first signal remains asserted. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification