Microprocessor die with integrated voltage regulation control circuit

• US 8,148,959 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Carlson, Jeffrey A., Osburn, Edward P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAJNIKANT B
• Application Number:
  US13/022,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 323271-274, 323/282, 323/284, 323/285, 323/288, 323/259, 323/267, 323/294, 363/26, 363/65, 363 67- 72, 363/89, 318/138, 318/439, 320132-136, 324427-428, 713/300, 713/320, 713/322, 361/704, 361/707, 361/767, 361/785
• US Class Current: 323/272
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

An integrated circuit die includes a microprocessor and a control circuit to control elements of a voltage regulator to supply power to the microprocessor.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit (IC) die, comprising:

a processor; and

a control circuit on the IC die to control elements of a voltage regulator to supply power to the processor, wherein

the processor includes at least one monitoring point on the IC die,

the control circuit includes a respective sensor at one or more of the at least one monitoring points,

the respective sensors are configured to monitor voltage and current at the respective monitoring points, and

the control circuit is configured to control the elements of the voltage regulator at least in part based on information from the sensors.

2. The IC die of claim 1, wherein at least some of the sensors are analog sensors.

3. The IC die of claim 1, wherein some of the sensors are digital sensors.

4. The IC die of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is laid out in accordance with an analog architecture.

5. The IC die of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is laid out in accordance with a digital architecture.

6. The IC die of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a core to execute instructions.

7. The IC die of claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes an arithmetic logic block.

8. The IC die of claim 7, wherein the control circuit includes a timer block.

9. The IC die of claim 8, wherein the control circuit includes an output driving block.

10. The IC die of claim 9, wherein the control circuit includes a fuse block.