Area and power efficient switchable supply network for powering multiple digital islands
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- coupling an output port of a first voltage regulator to a first power collapsible circuit and a first retention circuit to provide a first supply voltage;
coupling an output port of a second voltage regulator to a second power collapsible circuit and a second retention circuit to provide a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage;
de-coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator from the second power collapsible circuit;
coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator to the second retention circuit to provide a supply voltage;
lowering the supply voltage; and
comparing the first supply voltage to the supply voltage as the supply voltage is lowered.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switchable supply network for powering multiple digital islands. In one embodiment, a first digital island includes a first power collapsible circuit and a first retention circuit, and a second digital island includes a second power collapsible circuit and a second retention circuit. In a normal mode of operation, the first digital island is provided a first supply voltage and a second digital island is provided a second supply voltage higher than the first supply voltage. In a transition mode the second power collapsible circuit is powered down and the second supply voltage is lowered and provided to the second retention circuit. When the second supply voltage falls below the first supply voltage, the first power collapsible circuit is powered down. The second supply voltage is now provided only to the retention circuits, and is furthered lowered in a retention mode to a final retention voltage.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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coupling an output port of a first voltage regulator to a first power collapsible circuit and a first retention circuit to provide a first supply voltage; coupling an output port of a second voltage regulator to a second power collapsible circuit and a second retention circuit to provide a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage; de-coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator from the second power collapsible circuit; coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator to the second retention circuit to provide a supply voltage; lowering the supply voltage; and comparing the first supply voltage to the supply voltage as the supply voltage is lowered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A circuit comprising:
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a first voltage regulator to provide a first supply voltage; a second voltage regulator to provide a second supply voltage and a supply voltage, the second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage; a first power collapsible circuit; a first retention circuit; a second power collapsible circuit; a second retention circuit; a comparator; and a controller coupled to the first voltage regulator, the second voltage regulator, and the comparator, the controller to; during a normal mode, couple the first voltage regulator to the first power collapsible circuit and the first retention circuit to provide the first supply voltage, and couple the second voltage regulator to the second power collapsible circuit and the second retention circuit to provide the second supply voltage; and during a transition mode, de-couple the second voltage regulator from the second power collapsible circuit, couple the second voltage regulator to the second retention circuit to provide the supply voltage and to lower the supply voltage, and configure the comparator to compare the first supply voltage to the supply voltage as the supply voltage is lowered. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A circuit comprising:
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a first voltage regulator having an output port; a first power collapsible circuit; a first retention circuit; a second voltage regulator having an output port; a second power collapsible circuit; a second retention circuit; means for coupling the output port of the first voltage regulator to the first power collapsible circuit and the first retention circuit to provide a first supply voltage; means for coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator to the second power collapsible circuit and the second retention circuit to provide a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage; means for de-coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator from the second power collapsible circuit; means for coupling the output port of the second voltage regulator to the second retention circuit to provide a supply voltage; means for lowering the supply voltage; and means for comparing the first supply voltage to the supply voltage as the supply voltage is lowered. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification