Integrated power management module

• US 6,348,744 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levesque, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/060,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43, 307/44, 307/45, 307/46, 307/64, 307/66, 307/80, 307/85, 307/86, 307/87
• US Class Current: 307/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a power management system for a portable phone, for example, a cellular phone operating according to a specific mobile communications standard GSM. The power management system comprises a switching module which switches automatically from a voltage provided by a battery to a voltage provided by an external power supply when the power management system is connected to an external power supply. Furthermore, the system comprises a module of voltage regulators, each regulator providing a preset voltage, and a first and second voltage converter. The first voltage converter transforms a first input voltage having a first value to an internal voltage having a lower value. The second voltage converter transforms a second input voltage having a second value to an internal voltage having a higher value. An included reset circuit provides an automated reset function. A logic array module is connected to input ports and is associated with a communications interface. The logic array module receives signals for controlling the module of voltage regulators and the reset circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic, portable apparatus configured to be operable by a battery and an external power supply, comprising a power management module and peripheral components, the power management module having input and output ports and being implemented as a single integrated circuit, the power management module comprising:

a switching module, comprising a first transistor a second transistor and a switch responsive to a control signal;

the switching module configured to select one of several supply voltages for the power management module;

a module of voltage regulators, each regulator configured to provide selectively a voltage of a preset value at outputs of the power management module;

a first voltage converter, the first voltage converter configured to transform the selected supply voltage to an output voltage having a required value, if the present value of the selected supply voltage is lower than the required value;

a power-on-reset module, the power-on-reset module configured to provide for a predefined sequence of activation of the peripheral components;

the peripheral devices comprise a radio frequency receiver and a power amplifier; and

a logic array module, the logic array module being associated with a communications interface, the logic array module receiving signals for controlling the module of voltage regulators and the power-on-reset module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second voltage converter, the second voltage converter configured to transform an input voltage provided by the external power supply to a voltage having a lower value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to communicate with a memory device, the interface being connected to the logic array module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the interface is an interface for a smart card storing user specific data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module of voltage regulators includes five voltage regulators configured to have a low drop voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the module of voltage regulators further comprises two isolated linear regulators.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first voltage converter is a step-up converter providing within a first time interval a constant current and within a second time interval a varying current to achieve a constant voltage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the step-up converter is optimized for driving a capacitive load.

9. An electronic, portable apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical portable apparatus constitutes a personal communications device.

10. An electronic, portable apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said personal communications device comprises a cellular telephone, said cellular telephone further comprising a receiver for receiving and processing a cellular telephone signal.

11. A power management module for an electronic, portable apparatus configured to be operable by a battery and an external power supply, the power management module having input and output ports and being implemented as a single integrated circuit, comprising:

a switching module, the switching module configured to select one of several supply voltages for the power management module;

a module of voltage regulators, each regulator configured to provide selectively a voltage of a preset value at outputs of the power management module;

a first voltage converter, the first voltage converter configured to transform the selected supply voltage to an output voltage having a required value, if the present value of the selected supply voltage is lower than the required value;

a power-on-reset module, the power-on-reset module configured to provide for a predefined sequence of activation of the peripheral components;

the peripheral devices comprise a radio frequency receiver and a power amplifier; and

a logic array module, the logic array module being associated with a communications interface, the logic array module receiving signals for controlling the module of voltage regulators and the power-on-reset module.

12. The module of claim 11, further comprising a second voltage converter, the second voltage converter configured to transform an input voltage provided by the external power supply to a voltage having a lower value.

13. The module of claim 11, further comprising an interface configured to communicate with a memory device, the interface being connected to the logic array module.

14. The module of claim 13, wherein the interface is an interface for a smart card storing user specific data.

15. The module of claim 11, wherein the first voltage converter is a step-up converter providing within a first time interval a constant current and within a second time interval a varying current to achieve a constant voltage.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein the step-up converter is optimized for driving a capacitive load.

17. The module of claim 11, wherein the module voltage regulators includes five voltage regulators configured to have a low drop voltage.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein the module of voltage regulators further comprises two isolated linear regulators.

19. A portable communications device comprising:

a first input for receiving a first supply voltage from an associated battery;

a second input for receiving a second supply voltage from a secondary power supply;

a receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) communications signal;

a transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal;

a power amplifier for amplifying a signal to be transmitted;

a single integrated circuit power management module for providing an operating voltage to said receiver;

the power management module comprising;

a switching module configured to select one of several supply voltages for the power management module;

a module of voltage regulators, each regulator configured to provide selectively a voltage of a preset value at outputs of the power management module;

a first voltage converter, the first voltage converter configured to transform the selected supply voltage to an output voltage having a required value, if the present value of the selected supply voltage is lower than the required value;

a power-on-reset module, the power-on-reset module configured to provide for a predefined sequence of activation of the peripheral components; and

a logic array module, the logic array module being associated with a communications interface, the logic array module receiving signals for controlling the module of voltage regulators and the power-on-reset module.

20. A portable communications device comprising:

a first input for receiving a first supply voltage from an associated battery;

a second input for receiving a second supply voltage from a secondary power supply;

a receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) communications signal;

a transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal;

a power amplifier for amplifying a signal to be transmitted;

a single integrated circuit power management module for providing a voltage to said receiver;

the power management module comprising;

a switching module, the switching module configured to select one of the supply voltages for the power management module;

a module of voltage regulators, each regulator configured to provide selectively a voltage of a preset value at outputs of the power management module;

a first voltage converter, the first voltage converter configured to transform the selected supply voltage to an output voltage having a required value, if the present value of the selected supply voltage is lower than the required value;

a power-on-reset module, the power-on-reset module configured to provide for a predefined sequence of activation of the receiver, transmitter and power amplifier; and

a logic array module, the logic array module being associated with a communications interface, the logic array module receiving signals for controlling the module of voltage regulators and the power-on-reset module.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a second voltage converter, the second voltage converter configured to transform an input voltage provided by the external power supply to a voltage having a lower value.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising an interface configured to communicate with a memory device, the interface being connected to the logic array module.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the interface is an interface for a smart card storing user specific data.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the module of voltage regulators includes five voltage regulators configured to have a low drop voltage.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the module of voltage regulators further comprises to isolated linear regulators.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first voltage converter is a step-up converter providing within a first time interval at a constant current and within a second time interval, a varying current to achieve a constant voltage.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the step-up converter is optimized for driving a capacitive load.