System and method for dynamically regulating voltage to minimize power consumption
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation, wherein the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level;
a capacitor coupled to a switch, wherein the capacitor is controllable to be coupled in parallel with the voltage source via the switch to be charged by the voltage source, the capacitor to be charged to a voltage equal to a voltage of the voltage source, wherein the charging is to occur without the voltage of the voltage source falling below a threshold;
a control processor for providing control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation;
a component associated with the voltage regulator to receive the regulated voltage, wherein the component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation in which the capacitor is coupled in series with the voltage source to provide a burst current to the component; and
wherein the control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled, and to control the switch to enable the charging without the voltage of the voltage source falling below the threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation. The second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level. A control processor provides control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation. A component associated with the voltage regulator. The component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation. The control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled.
11 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a first level in a first mode of operation and at least one second level in a second mode of operation, wherein the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level; a capacitor coupled to a switch, wherein the capacitor is controllable to be coupled in parallel with the voltage source via the switch to be charged by the voltage source, the capacitor to be charged to a voltage equal to a voltage of the voltage source, wherein the charging is to occur without the voltage of the voltage source falling below a threshold; a control processor for providing control signals to select between the first and the second modes of operation; a component associated with the voltage regulator to receive the regulated voltage, wherein the component is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation in which the capacitor is coupled in series with the voltage source to provide a burst current to the component; and wherein the control processor generates control signals to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the first level in the first mode of operation when the component is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the at least one second level in the second mode of operation when the component is enabled, and to control the switch to enable the charging without the voltage of the voltage source falling below the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a voltage regulator connected to a voltage source for providing a regulated voltage at a 1.8V level in a first mode of operation and at a 3.6V level in a second mode of operation; a control processor for providing control signals to select between the 1.8V level and the 3.6V level modes of operation; a capacitor coupled to a switch, wherein the capacitor is controllable to be coupled in parallel with the voltage source via the switch to be charged by the voltage source, the capacitor to be charged to a voltage equal to a voltage of the voltage source, wherein the charging is to occur without the voltage of the voltage source falling below a threshold; an RF transmitter associated with the voltage regulator to receive the regulated voltage, wherein the RF transmitter is disabled in the first mode of operation and enabled in the second mode of operation; and wherein the control processor generates control signals to control the switch and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the 1.8V level in the first mode of operation when the RF transmitter is disabled and to configure the voltage regulator to generate the voltage at the 3.6V level in the second mode of operation when the RF transmitter is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for dynamically controlling a system voltage, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a component is disabled in a first mode of operation or enabled in a second mode of operation; determining voltage needs of a system based upon whether the component is enabled or disabled; generating control signals to provide the voltage needs of the system; providing a regulated voltage at a first level in the first mode of operation responsive to the control signals; and providing a regulated voltage at least one second level in the second mode of operation responsive to the control signals, wherein the second voltage level is higher than the first voltage level, including providing a burst current to the component via a capacitor coupled to a switch, wherein the capacitor is controllable to be coupled in parallel with a voltage source via the switch to be charged by the voltage source, the capacitor to be charged to a voltage equal to a voltage of the voltage source, wherein the charging is to occur without the voltage of the voltage source falling below a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification