Power, ground, and routing scheme for a microprocessor power regulator

• US 6,947,273 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Primarion Incorporated (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Bassett, Keith, Carroll, Robert, Tang, Benjamin, Ng, Tim, Steffen, Nicholas, Ostrom, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kitov, Zeev
• Application Number:
  US10/165,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 361/111, 361/54, 327/310, 327/309, 257/355, 257/356
• US Class Current: 361/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for routing signals in a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of chip components, such as transient suppression regulators, that are configured to include a transmission path that is routed through the chip component for transmission of any signal, for example, a signal from a communication bus of the microelectronic device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller configured to receive a transient event detection signal and to send an information signal in response to the transient event detection signal;

a plurality of transient suppression regulators, wherein at least one transient suppression regulator is configured to receive the information signal; and

a signal line connecting the controller and the plurality of transient suppression regulators, wherein the signal line is configured to route through each of the regulators, and wherein the information signal is transmitted along the signal line.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sense circuit configured to detect a transient power event and coupled to at least one of the plurality of the transient suppression regulators.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sense circuit comprises a voltage sense circuit.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the sense circuit comprises a di/dt sense circuit.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the sense circuit comprises a di/dt sense circuit and a voltage sense circuit.

6. A system for routing signals to portions of a microelectronic device, the system comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of power regulators coupled to the substrate, the power regulators configured to provide transient suppression power to the microelectronic device;

a signal line formed on the substrate, wherein the signal line connects each of the power regulators in a serial pattern; and

wherein each of the power regulators has a transmission path for the signal line.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a core power supply coupled to the power regulators.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said power regulators comprises:

a switchable current source.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said power regulators comprises:

a sense circuit.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said power regulators comprises:

a current source and a current sink.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein each of said power regulators comprises:

a sense circuit;

a controller coupled to the sense circuit; and

a current source and a current sink selectively activated in response to a signal

provided by the controller.