Regulator with device performance dynamic mode selection
First Claim
1. A voltage regulator with dynamic mode selection for providing efficient voltage regulation to an electronic device, comprising:
- a first voltage regulator coupled to said electronic device and a power supply;
a second voltage regulator coupled to said electronic device and said power supply; and
a data collection and control circuit capable of measuring operating conditions and performance parameters of said electronic device;
wherein said data collection and control circuit enables said first voltage regulator if said operating conditions are such that when said data collection and control circuit enables said second voltage regulator said performance parameters fall below a predefined standard.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage regulator device and accompanying methods are provided for providing efficient voltage regulation to an electronic device. Efficient regulator 400 receives an input voltage on VIN from a battery or some other power supply at node VIN and supplies a stable regulated voltage to load device 404 at node VOUT. Load device 404 pulls different amounts of current and requires different degrees of tolerance on the voltage at VOUT depending upon its operating conditions. Data collection and control circuit 401 is capable of enabling and disabling regulator 402 and regulator 403. Data collection and control circuit 401 is also capable of measuring certain performance parameters associated with load device 404 and the operating conditions of load device 404. Data collection and control circuit 401 enables regulator 402 if said operating conditions are such that when data collection and control circuit 401 enables regulator 403 the performance parameters associated with load 404 are below a predefined standard.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A voltage regulator with dynamic mode selection for providing efficient voltage regulation to an electronic device, comprising:
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a first voltage regulator coupled to said electronic device and a power supply; a second voltage regulator coupled to said electronic device and said power supply; and a data collection and control circuit capable of measuring operating conditions and performance parameters of said electronic device; wherein said data collection and control circuit enables said first voltage regulator if said operating conditions are such that when said data collection and control circuit enables said second voltage regulator said performance parameters fall below a predefined standard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing efficient voltage regulation to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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regulating a supply voltage applied to said electronic device using a voltage regulator in a switching regulator mode; measuring performance parameters of said electronic device with a data collection and control circuit while said electronic device is in an operating state; switching said voltage regulator to a linear regulator mode for regulating said supply voltage applied to said electronic device if said performance parameters fail a predefined standard; and maintaining said voltage regulator in said switching regulator mode if said performance parameters exceed said predefined standard. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for providing power optimized voltage regulation to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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regulating a supply voltage applied to said electronic device with a voltage regulator in one of a linear regulator mode and a switching regulator mode; measuring the operating conditions of said electronic device; setting said voltage regulator in a stored mode corresponding to said operating conditions if said operating conditions and said stored mode are stored in an operating condition storage matrix; calibrating said voltage regulator if said operating conditions are not stored in said operating condition storage matrix by measuring performance parameters of said electronic device while said voltage regulator is in said switching regulator mode; and storing, if said operating conditions are not stored in said operating condition storage matrix, a switching regulator mode selection code as said stored mode corresponding to said operating conditions if said performance parameters pass a predefined standard and a linear regulator mode selection code as said stored mode corresponding to said operating conditions if said performance parameters fail said predefined standard. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification