Method and apparatus for regulating power to electronic circuits
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage regulator circuit to regulate power at a load; and
a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit, said controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage at the load when the load operates in a first mode, the controller to detect a transition in the load from the first mode to a second mode, the controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage, after the controller detects the transition in the load from the first mode to the second mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for supplying power to a load. The apparatus comprising a voltage regulator circuit and a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit. The controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage for the load operating in the first mode. The controller to detect a change in the operating mode of the load and to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage. Prior to causing the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage the controller may allow voltage and current to stabilize at the load at a value between the first mode and a second mode.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a voltage regulator circuit to regulate power at a load; and a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit, said controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage at the load when the load operates in a first mode, the controller to detect a transition in the load from the first mode to a second mode, the controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage, after the controller detects the transition in the load from the first mode to the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for regulating power in a circuit comprising:
-
maintaining a first voltage at a load for the load operating in a first mode; detecting a change in a first operating mode of the load when the load transitions from the first mode to a second mode; and generating a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage but lower than a maximum voltage for the load, after the change in the first operating mode of the load is detected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An apparatus comprising:
-
a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a bus interface unit, a core coupled to the bus interface unit, and a clock coupled to the bus interface unit and the core; and a voltage regulator circuit to regulate power to the microprocessor, a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit, said controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage at the microprocessor, when the microprocessor operates in a first mode, and the controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage during a transition of the microprocessor between the first mode and a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A computer system comprising:
-
a load comprising a microprocessor and a memory coupled to the microprocessor; a power supply to supply power to the load said power supply comprising a voltage regulator circuit to regulate power at the load; and a controller coupled to the voltage regulator circuit, said controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage for the microprocessor operating in a first mode, and the controller to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage but lower than a maximum voltage for the load during a transition of the microprocessor between the first mode and a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. An apparatus comprising:
-
a sense circuit coupled to a voltage regulator circuit and a load; a controller coupled to the sense circuit and the voltage regulator circuit, said controller comprising a voltage comparison unit and a voltage reference unit, the voltage comparison unit to compare the voltage across the sense circuit with a reference voltage in the voltage reference unit to determine an operating mode of the load, the voltage comparison unit to cause the voltage regulator circuit to maintain a first voltage when the load operates in a first mode, the voltage comparison unit to detect a transition in the load from the first mode to a second mode, and to cause the voltage regulator circuit to output a second voltage that is higher than a stabilized voltage, after the controller detects the transition in the load from the first mode to the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
Specification