Method and apparatus to minimize switching noise disturbance

US10678288B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Mikko Lintonen · Oulu, FI
• Marko Pessa · Oulu, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 30, 2019
• Grant date: Jun 9, 2020
• Expiry date: Aug 30, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K17/163
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A power management circuit generates a reference voltage and distributes it to a plurality of independently-enabled regulator voltage reference circuits, each of which generates a predetermined voltage for a voltage regulator. Separate enable signals and enable pre-charge signals are distributed to each regulator voltage reference circuit. As a regulator voltage reference circuit is enabled via its associated enable signal, an enable pre-charge signal is also asserted for an initial duration. Each regulator voltage reference circuit includes a voltage setting circuit and a first current limiting transistor in series and operative to interrupt current to the voltage setting circuit when the regulator voltage reference circuit is disabled. A second current limiting transistor is configurably configured as a current mirror with the first current limiting transistor, and a pre-charge bias current from a current source passes through the second transistor. This limits the current through the first transistor and into the voltage setting circuit for the initial duration. After the initial duration, the current mirror is disabled and the first transistor is rendered fully conductive.