Apparatus and method for sensing distributed load currents provided by power gating circuit
US10382034B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for sensing distributed load currents provided by power gating circuit. The apparatus includes a power gating circuit including a set of bulk transistors coupled in series with a set of circuits between first and second voltage rails. The apparatus includes a current sensor with a first ring oscillator, a first frequency-to-code (FTC) converter, a second ring oscillator, a second FTC converter, and a subtractor. The first ring oscillator includes a first set of one or more inverters configured to receive a first voltage at a node between the power gating circuit and the first circuit, and a second set of one or more inverters configured to receive a second voltage at a second node between the power gating circuit and the second circuit. The first ring oscillator is configured to generate a signal including a frequency related to the voltage drops across the first and second sets of transistors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.