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公开(公告)号：US20240313646A1
公开(公告)日：2024-09-19
申请号：US18618171
申请日：2024-03-27
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Hao Zhou , Sarfraz Shaikh , Jay B. Fletcher , Sanjay Pant , Mark A. Yoshimoto , Vincenzo Bisogno , Shawn Searles
Abstract: A power management circuit included in a computer system regulates a voltage level of a power supply node used by other circuits in the computer system. The power management circuit includes a control circuit and multiple phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors. The control circuit selectively activates particular ones of the multiple phase circuits allowing them source respective currents to the regulated power supply node. The control circuit also selectively activates particular ones of other phase circuits that are external to the power management circuit and coupled to the regulated power supply node via their own corresponding inductors. Once activated, the external phase circuits source respective currents to the regulated power supply node via their corresponding inductors.
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公开(公告)号：US20230369972A1
公开(公告)日：2023-11-16
申请号：US18317679
申请日：2023-05-15
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Hao Zhou , Sarfraz Shaikh , Jay B. Fletcher , Sanjay Pant , Mark A. Yoshimoto , Vincenzo Bisogno , Shawn Searles
Abstract: A power management circuit included in a computer system regulates a voltage level of a power supply node used by other circuits in the computer system. The power management circuit includes a control circuit and multiple phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors. The control circuit selectively activates particular ones of the multiple phase circuits allowing them source respective currents to the regulated power supply node. The control circuit also selectively activates particular ones of other phase circuits that are external to the power management circuit and coupled to the regulated power supply node via their own corresponding inductors. Once activated, the external phase circuits source respective currents to the regulated power supply node via their corresponding inductors.
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公开(公告)号：US11736111B2
公开(公告)日：2023-08-22
申请号：US17455338
申请日：2021-11-17
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Jared L. Zerbe , Brian S. Leibowitz , Sanjay Pant
CPC classification number: H03L7/099 , H03L1/00 , H03L7/0805
Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to detecting supply voltage events and performing corrective actions. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes sensor circuitry and control circuitry. In some embodiments, the sensor circuitry is configured to monitor supply voltage from a power supply and detect a load release event that includes an increase in the supply voltage that meets one or more pre-determined threshold parameters. In some embodiments, the control circuitry is configured to increase clock cycle time for operations performed by circuitry powered by the supply voltage during a time interval, wherein the time interval corresponds to ringing of the supply voltage that reduces the supply voltage and results from the load release event. In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce transients in supply voltage (which may avoid equipment damage and computing errors) and may allow for reduced voltage margins (which may reduce overall power consumption).
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公开(公告)号：US20230188043A1
公开(公告)日：2023-06-15
申请号：US18168276
申请日：2023-02-13
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Sanjay Pant , Fabio Gozzini , Hubert Attah , Jonathan F. Bolus , Wenxun Huang
IPC: H02M3/158 , H02M3/157 , G06F1/3203 , H03M1/12
CPC classification number: H02M3/1584 , H02M3/157 , G06F1/3203 , H03M1/12 , H02M3/1586
Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding one of multiple inductors. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply line using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.
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公开(公告)号：US20200287555A1
公开(公告)日：2020-09-10
申请号：US16851821
申请日：2020-04-17
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Brian S. Leibowitz , Jared L. Zerbe , Sanjay Pant
Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to rapidly downshifting the output frequency of an oscillator. In some embodiments, the oscillator is configured to operate in a closed-loop mode in which negative feedback is used to maintain a particular output frequency (e.g., in a phase-locked loop (PLL)). In some embodiments, the negative feedback loop is configured to maintain the output of the oscillator at a particular frequency based on a reference clock signal and the output of the oscillator. The nature of a negative feedback loop may render rapid frequency changes difficult, e.g., because of corrections by the loop. Therefore, in some embodiments, the loop is configured to switch to an open-loop mode in which a control input to the oscillator is fixed. In some embodiments, the loop switches to open-loop mode in response to a trigger signal and control circuitry forces the oscillator to a new target frequency.
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公开(公告)号：US10520970B2
公开(公告)日：2019-12-31
申请号：US14870661
申请日：2015-09-30
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Jay B. Fletcher , Shawn Searles , Fabio Gozzini , Sanjay Pant
Abstract: A system that includes a regulator unit is disclosed. The regulator unit includes first and second phase units whose outputs are coupled to a common output node. Each of the phase units may be configured to source current to the output node in response to the assertion of a respective clock signal in order to generate a regulated supply voltage. Each phase unit includes a respective transconductance amplifier configured to generate a respective demand current dependent upon a reference voltage and the regulated supply voltage.
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公开(公告)号：US20180083532A1
公开(公告)日：2018-03-22
申请号：US15402827
申请日：2017-01-10
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Fabio Gozzini , Jay B. Fletcher , Shawn Searles , Sanjay Pant
CPC classification number: H02M3/156 , H02M1/08 , H02M3/1584 , H02M2001/0003 , H02M2001/0009 , H02M2001/0025 , H02M2001/0064 , H02M2003/1586
Abstract: A system that includes a regulator circuit is disclosed. The regulator circuit includes first and second phase units whose outputs are coupled to a power supply node of a circuit block, via respective coupled inductors. The first phase unit may initiate a charge cycle of the power supply node in response to assertion of a clock signal and generate a compensated current using currents measure through both inductors and the clock signal. In response to a determination that the compensated current is greater than a demand current generated using a voltage level of the power supply node and a reference voltage, the first phase unit may halt the charge cycle.
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公开(公告)号：US12216515B2
公开(公告)日：2025-02-04
申请号：US18497443
申请日：2023-10-30
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Shawn Searles , Fabio Gozzini , Sanjay Pant , Inder M. Sodhi
Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include a phase circuit and a sample circuit. The phase circuit compares a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage to generate a demand current that is used to adjust the voltage level of the regulated power supply node. The phase circuit also digitizes the demand current and stores the resultant bit stream in a memory circuit. The sample circuit generates timestamp information that points to particular storage locations in the memory circuit that correspond to trigger events, allowing the operation of the power converter circuit to be analyzed during different circumstances as well as to adjust operating parameters of the power converter circuit.
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公开(公告)号：US12081124B2
公开(公告)日：2024-09-03
申请号：US17661509
申请日：2022-04-29
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Jay B. Fletcher , Nathan F. Hanagami , Sanjay Pant , Hao Zhou , Shawn Searles
Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may employ a control circuit and a switch array that includes multiple switch circuits. Different groups of switch circuits that include respective groups of switch devices are coupled between an input power supply node and corresponding regulated power supply nodes. To maintain desired respective voltages on the regulated power supply nodes, the control circuit compares the voltages of the regulated power supply nodes to corresponding reference voltages and, based on results of the comparisons, opens and closes various ones of the switch devices included in the different groups of switch circuits.
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公开(公告)号：US11962245B2
公开(公告)日：2024-04-16
申请号：US18168276
申请日：2023-02-13
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Sanjay Pant , Fabio Gozzini , Hubert Attah , Jonathan F. Bolus , Wenxun Huang
IPC: H02M3/157 , G06F1/3203 , H02M3/158 , H03M1/12
CPC classification number: H02M3/1584 , G06F1/3203 , H02M3/157 , H03M1/12 , H02M3/1586
Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding one of multiple inductors. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply line using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.
