Systems for controlling power consumption in integrated circuits
US5701071A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05F3/262
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems for controlling the current consumption of an integrated circuit chip and the like so as to reduce the inductive voltage drops occurring over the power supply lines within the chip and power supply lines to the chip are disclosed. The systems according to the present invention are applicable to circuits having two or more sub-circuits formed on a semiconductor substrate, each sub-circuit having two or more power supply inputs. An exemplary system comprises two or more current shunting elements formed on the substrate, with each current shunting element coupled in parallel with the power supply inputs of a selected sub-circuit. The system has at least two main power supply lines formed on the semiconductor substrate, with each selected sub-circuit having each of its power supply inputs coupled to a main power supply line. A current shunting element may comprise a Zener diode, an active shunt circuit, or equivalents thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.