RECONFIGURABLE POWER SWITCH CHAINS FOR EFFICIENT DYNAMIC POWER SAVING

摘要

Traditionally, designs have been very conservative on power grid design using higher margins than those needed for safe operation. This is especially true for process driver designs which may not have enough data on process characteristics. This invention allows us to recoup these inefficiencies and to speed up the power up/power down dynamically. This invention sequences plural power supply switches serially or in plural parallel sets as set by a wake up mode.

主权项

1. A power control system for a power domain on an integrated circuit comprising:
a power supply; a plurality of power switches, each having a first terminal connected to said power supply, a second terminal connected to a power supply input of the power domain and an input for control of conduction between said first terminal and said second terminal; and a power supply controller having a plurality of outputs, each output connected to said input of a corresponding power switch, said power supply controller operable to
power up the power domain by supplying signals on said outputs to inputs of corresponding power switches to sequentially cause said power switches to conduct until all power switches are turned conduct, andpower up the power domain by supplying signals on said outputs to inputs of corresponding power switches to conduct via at least two power switches simultaneously.