Methods and structures for flexible power management in integrated circuits
US7620926B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/17796
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Structures and methods of efficiently implementing power management in integrated circuits (ICs). An IC includes columns of logic blocks and columns of power management blocks (PMBs). The columns of PMBs and logic blocks are placed alternately across the IC, with each PMB being coupled to a logic block in an adjacent column, and the logic blocks are coupled to each other across the columns of PMBs. The PMBs can be implemented, for example, using power gates coupled between a global power rail (either ground or power high) and a local power rail specific to the associated logic block. A PMB can be selected from a library of interchangeable PMBs based on power and performance requirements of a target application. Because the PMB is designed as a separate block, any of the interchangeable PMBs in the library can readily be included in the IC.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.