Configurable voltage regulator

• US 7,062,392 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US11/220,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 702/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/5444 for electrical read out
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/261 Amplifier which being suitable for instrumentation applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/45138 Two or more differential amplifiers in IC-block form are combined, e.g. measuring amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1291 Current or voltage controlled filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/30 Automatic matching of source impedance to load impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0153 Electrical filters; Controlling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance

Abstract

A voltage regulator has a plurality of predetermined configurations and comprises a measurement circuit to measure an electrical characteristic of at least one external impedance and to determine a digital value corresponding to the measured electrical characteristic. An address generator converts the digital value to a first digital address corresponding to a memory location having contents. Each of the contents corresponds to a respective one of the predetermined configurations. A controller configures the voltage regulator based on the contents of the memory location corresponding to the first digital address.

Claims

1. A voltage regulator having a plurality of predetermined configurations, comprising:

a measurement circuit to measure an electrical characteristic of at least one external impedance and to determine a digital value corresponding to the measured electrical characteristic;

an address generator to convert the digital value to a first digital address corresponding to a memory location having contents, wherein each of the contents corresponds to a respective one of the predetermined configurations; and

a controller to configure the voltage regulator based on the contents of the memory location corresponding to the first digital address.

2. The voltage regulator of claim 1 further comprising a generator to supply energy to the external impedance.

3. The voltage regulator of claim 1 further comprising a circuit to generate an output as a function of the variable.

4. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein the measurement circuit is selected from a group consisting of timing circuits, Digital to Analog Converters, and Analog to Digital Converters.

5. The voltage regulator of claim 1 further comprising a value determiner to determine the digital value corresponding to the measured electrical characteristic.

6. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one external impedance is selected from a group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and combinations thereof.

7. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one external impedance has a value;

the electrical characteristic is an output voltage; and

the electrical characteristic is a function of the at least one external impedance value.

8. The voltage regulator of claim 7 wherein the at least one external impedance value is selected from a predetermined group of values comprising at least three values.

9. The voltage regulator of claim 8 wherein the group of values has a spacing characteristic selected from a group consisting of exponential, linear, and logarithmic.

10. The voltage regulator of claim 8 wherein the at least three values are each nominal values;

and

wherein the at least three nominal values are spaced apart based on tolerances associated with at least the measurement circuit.

11. The voltage regulator of claim 1 being adapted to connect to at least two external impedances;

a first one of the at least two external impedances to be used to select an electrical characteristic of the voltage regulator; and

a second one of the at least two external impedances to be used to select a tolerance associated with the voltage regulator electrical characteristic.

12. The voltage regulator of claim 11 wherein the voltage regulator electrical characteristic is output voltage.

13. The voltage regulator of claim 1 further comprising a package having pins, to enclose the voltage regulator;

and

the at least one external impedance to interface to the voltage regulator through the package pins.

14. The voltage regulator of claim 13 further including another circuit to provide a circuit function;

each external impedance corresponding to one of the package pins; and

at least one package pin corresponding to one external impedance to connect to the other circuit, the at least one package pin to provide at least a selection function and a circuit function.

15. The voltage regulator of claim 14 wherein the circuit function of the other circuit includes an additional operation such that the at least one package pin provides at least a selection function and an additional operation function.

16. A voltage regulator having a plurality of predetermined configurations, comprising:

means for measuring an electrical characteristic of at least one external impedance;

means for determining a digital value corresponding to the measured electrical characteristic;

means for converting the digital value to a first digital address corresponding to a memory location having contents, wherein each of the contents corresponds to a respective one of the predetermined configurations; and

means for configuring the voltage regulator based on the contents of the memory location corresponding to the first digital address.

17. The voltage regulator of claim 16 further comprising means for supplying energy to the external impedance.

18. The voltage regulator of claim 16 further comprising means for generating an output as a function of the variable.

19. The voltage regulator of claim 16 wherein the means for measuring is selected from a group consisting of timing circuits, Digital to Analog Converters, and Analog to Digital Converters.

20. The voltage regulator of claim 16 wherein the at least one external impedance is selected from a group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and combinations thereof.

21. The voltage regulator of claim 16 wherein the at least one external impedance has a value;

the electrical characteristic is selected from a group consisting of voltage and current; and

the electrical characteristic is a function of the value.

22. The voltage regulator of claim 21 wherein the at least one external impedance value is selected from a predetermined group of values comprising at least three values.

23. The voltage regulator of claim 22 wherein the group of values has a spacing characteristic selected from a group consisting of exponential, linear, and logarithmic.

24. The voltage regulator of claim 22 wherein the at least three values are each nominal values;

and

wherein the at least three nominal values are spaced apart based on tolerances associated with at least the measurement circuit.

25. The voltage regulator of claim 16 being adapted to connect to at least two external impedances;

a first one of the at least two external impedances to be used to select an electrical characteristic of the voltage regulator; and

a second one of the at least two external impedances to be used to select a tolerance associated with the voltage regulator electrical characteristic.

26. The voltage regulator of claim 25 wherein the voltage regulator electrical characteristic is output voltage.

27. The voltage regulator of claim 16 further comprising means for enclosing the voltage regulator, the enclosing means having pins;

and

the at least one external impedance to interface to the voltage regulator through the enclosing means pins.

28. The voltage regulator of claim 27 further including another circuit to provide a circuit function;

each external impedance corresponding to one of the enclosing means pins; and

at least one enclosing means pin corresponding to one external impedance to connect to the other circuit, the at least one enclosing means pin to provide at least a selection function and a circuit function.

29. The voltage regulator of claim 28 wherein the circuit function of the other circuit includes an additional operation such that the at least one enclosing means pin provides at least a selection function and an additional operation function.