EFFICIENT WAKEUP OF POWER GATED DOMAINS THROUGH CHARGE SHARING AND RECYCLING

摘要

A mechanism is provided for an integrated circuit with power gating. A power header switch is configured to connect and disconnect any circuits to a common voltage source. A powered off circuit is disconnected from the common voltage source. A first capacitor and a second capacitor are configured to supply wakeup electrical charge to a given circuit of the circuits. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are connectable to the given circuit and the powered off circuit. A controller is configured to controllably connect the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor to the given circuit in order to supply the wakeup electrical charge to the given circuit, when the powered off circuit was previously connected to the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor.

主权项

1. A method of operating an integrated circuit with power gating, the method comprising:
configuring a power header switch to connect and disconnect any one of a plurality of circuits to a common voltage source, wherein a powered off circuit in the plurality of circuits is disconnected from the common voltage source; controlling a first capacitor and a second capacitor to supply wakeup electrical charge to a given circuit of the plurality of circuits, the first capacitor and the second capacitor being connectable to the given circuit and the powered off circuit; and configuring a controller to controllably connect the first capacitor and the second capacitor to the given circuit in order to supply the wakeup electrical charge to the given circuit, in response to the powered off circuit being previously connected to at least one of the first capacitor and the second capacitor; wherein a first coupling element and a second coupling element are turned on to connect the first capacitor and the second capacitor to the given circuit in order to supply the wakeup electrical charge to the given circuit; and wherein a third coupling element is turned off which disconnects the powered off circuit from the first capacitor and the second capacitor.