Apparatus and system for providing transient suppression power regulation

• US 7,616,456 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Primarion Incorporated (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Ng, Tim, Ostrom, Ken, Duong, Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Rajnikant B
• Application Number:
  US11/480,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 323282-285, 323/222, 323/265, 323/268, 323/908, 323/266, 307/443, 307/75, 363 16- 20, 363/26, 363/97, 363/98
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/613 using semiconductor devices in parallel with the load as final control devices G05F1/461 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A device for providing power to suppress transient load demands and a system including the device are disclosed. The device includes a sense circuit to detect when a transient event occurs and one or more transistors configured to supply or sink current to the load. The system may include a second power regulator configured to respond to fast transient power demands. In this case, a first power regulator supplies power to the load and responds to slow transient events, while the second regulator responds only to fast transient events.

Claims

1. A microelectronic power regulator for regulating power to a microprocessor, comprising:

a first power regulator; and

a rate of change circuit configured to sense a rate of change of power distributed to the microprocessor, wherein

the rate of change circuit is configured to send a signal to the first power regulator, the signal indicative of the rate of change of power distributed to the microprocessor.

2. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 1, wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to sense a rate of change of voltage distributed to the microprocessor.

3. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 1, wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to sense a rate of change of current distributed to the microprocessor.

4. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 3, wherein the rate of change circuit comprises an inductor, and the rate of change of current is determined by measuring a voltage drop across the inductor.

5. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 1, wherein the rate of change circuit includes an amplifier configured to transmit a signal to the first power regulator, the signal in proportion to the rate of change of power.

6. The microclcctronic power regulator of claim 1, wherein the rate of change circuit comprises a comparator and wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to transmit a signal to the first power regulator after a predetermined rate of change of power distributed to the microprocessor is exceeded.

7. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 1, further comprising a second power regulator electrically coupled to the rate of change circuit.

8. A microelectronic power regulator system comprising:

a power source;

a first power regulator coupled to the power source and a load;

a second power regulator coupled to the power source the load; and

a rate of change circuit coupled to the second power regulator, the rate of change circuit configured to detect a rate of change of power and send a signal to the second power regulator in response to the rate of change of power.

9. The microelectronic power regulator system of claim 8, wherein the rate of change circuit is further configured to send a signal to the first power regulator in response to the rate of change of power.

10. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 8, wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to sense a rate of change of voltage distributed to the microprocessor.

11. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 8, wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to sense a rate of change of current distributed to the microprocessor.

12. The microelectronic power regulator of claim 11, wherein the rate of change circuit comprises an inductor, and the rate of change of current is determined by measuring a voltage drop across the inductor.

13. A microelectronic power regulator system comprising:

a power source;

a primary power regulator coupled to the power source;

a secondary power regulator coupled to the power source, the secondary regulator configured to respond to power demands at a higher frequency than the primary power regulator; and

a rate of change circuit coupled to the secondary power regulator, the rate of change circuit configured to detect a rate of change of power and send a signal to the secondary power regulator in response to the rate of change of power.

14. The microelectronic power regulator system or claim 13, wherein the secondary regulator is coupled in parallel to a load.

15. The microclectronic power regulator system of claim 13, wherein the secondary regulator is configured to be on when power is supplied to the primary regulator and is further configured to provide power to a load only when the primary regulator cannot sufficiently supply the power demanded by the load.

16. The microelectronic power regulator system of claim 13, wherein the primary regulator is coupled in series to a load.

17. The microelectronic power regulator system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of secondary regulators, wherein each of said plurality of secondary regulators is configured to supply power to a portion of a load.

18. The microelectronic power regulator system of claim 13, wherein the rate of change circuit is configured to receive a signal from the load, the signal indicative of power required by at least a portion of the load.