Patent · US Expired

System for adjusting a power supply level of a digital processing component and method of operating the same

US6985025B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
15References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 2002
Grant dateJan 10, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

There is disclosed control circuitry for adjusting a power supply level, VDD, of a digital processing component having varying operating frequencies. The control circuitry comprises N delay cells and power supply adjustment circuitry. The N delay cells are coupled in series, each of which has a delay D determined by a value of VDD, such that a clock edge applied to an input of a first delay cell ripples sequentially through the N delay cells. The power supply adjustment circuitry capable of adjusting VDD and is operable to (i) monitor outputs of at least a K delay cell and a K+1 delay cell, (ii) determine that the clock edge has reached an output of the K delay cell and has not reached an output of the K+1 delay cell, and (iii) generate a control signal capable of adjusting VDD in response thereto.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.