Apparatus for providing regulated power to an integrated circuit

• US 20010033152A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria Ag (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Primarion Incorporated (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Eisele, Michael, Pohlman, William
• Granted Patent: US 6,429,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/269
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/46 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc G05F1/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components

Abstract

A regulator system for supplying power to a microelectronic device is disclosed. The system includes an array of a plurality of regulators, where each regulator provides a portion of power required to operate the device. The system may further include an intermediate power regulator that supplies power to the array of regulators.

Claims

1. A microelectronic power supply system comprising an array of power regulators coupled together, wherein each regulator in the array is configured to provide power to a portion of a microelectronic device.

2. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, further comprising an intermediate regulator coupled to said array.

3. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 2

, wherein said intermediate regulator is a switching power regulator.

4. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 3

, wherein said intermediate regulator provides power to a microelectronic device and to said array of power regulators.

5. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, further comprising a power converter.

6. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, further comprising electronic components coupled to said array of power regulators.

7. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 6

, wherein said electronic components include capacitors.

8. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein said array is formed using SiGe.

9. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein said power regulators of said array comprise linear regulators.

10. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein at least one of said regulators of said array comprises a transistor and an error amplifier.

11. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein a plurality of said regulators of said array are coupled together in parallel.

12. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein a plurality of collector regions of said regulators of said array are coupled together.

13. The microelectronic power supply system of

claim 1

, wherein said array comprises conductive bumps.

14. A microelectronic regulator array comprising a plurality of regulators coupled together in parallel, said array configured to provide about 110 amps at more than about 500 MHz.

15. The microelectronic regulator array of

claim 14

, wherein at least a portion of collector regions of said regulators are coupled together.

16. A tiered power regulation system comprising:

an intermediate power regulator; and

a regulator array comprising a plurality of power regulators, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of power regulators are coupled to a common voltage source.

17. The tiered power regulation system of

claim 16

, wherein said intermediate power regulator is a switching regulator.

18. The tiered power system of

claim 16

, wherein at least one of said plurality of regulators is a linear power regulator.