Powering a circuit by alternating power supply connections in series and parallel with a storage capacitor
First Claim
1. A method of powering a group of circuits within an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
- in a first operating mode for powering the group of circuits, charging a storage capacitor from a power supply return current of the group of circuits while the group of circuits is operated from a DC power supply by coupling the storage capacitor in series with the group of circuits and the DC power supply; and
in a second operating mode for powering the group of circuits, powering the group of circuits from the storage capacitor by coupling power supply connections of the group of circuits to the storage capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) having an internal power supply voltage step down circuit provides efficiency while requiring a minimum of external terminals. In a first operating mode, a storage capacitor is charged from the power supply return of a group of circuits, while the group of circuits is powered from an input power supply voltage provided to the IC. In a second operating mode, the group of circuits is powered from the storage capacitor. The step-down circuit provides for halving the input power supply voltage, but multiple storage capacitors and additional operating modes can be provided for voltage division by greater factors. A sensing circuit can be employed to sense the voltage across the storage capacitor(s) and in response, select the operating mode, providing hysteretic control of the voltage supplied to the group of circuits.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of powering a group of circuits within an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
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in a first operating mode for powering the group of circuits, charging a storage capacitor from a power supply return current of the group of circuits while the group of circuits is operated from a DC power supply by coupling the storage capacitor in series with the group of circuits and the DC power supply; and in a second operating mode for powering the group of circuits, powering the group of circuits from the storage capacitor by coupling power supply connections of the group of circuits to the storage capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a power supply input terminal; a common return terminal; a group of circuits having a pair of common power supply connections including a power supply input and a corresponding power supply return; at least one storage capacitor terminal for connection of at least one corresponding capacitor for storing energy for periodic operation of the group of circuits; and a switching circuit for coupling the power supply connections of the group of circuits in series between the power supply input terminal and the at least one storage capacitor terminal in a first operating mode, whereby the group of circuits is powered from the power supply input terminal, and for coupling the pair of power supply connections of the group of circuits between the at least one storage capacitor terminal and the common return terminal in a second operating mode, whereby the group of circuits is powered from the at least one storage capacitor terminal in the second operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A circuit, comprising:
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a power supply input; a common return corresponding to the power supply input; a group of circuits having a pair of common power supply connections including a group power supply input and a corresponding group power supply return; at least one storage capacitor for storing energy for periodic operation of the group of circuits; and a switching circuit for coupling the common power supply connections of the group of circuits in series between the power supply input and the at least one storage capacitor in a first operating mode, whereby the group of circuits is powered from the power supply input, and for coupling the pair of power supply connections of the group of circuits between the at least one storage capacitor and the common return in a second operating mode, whereby the group of circuits is powered from the at least one storage capacitor in the second operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification