Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for efficiently using power at a voltage regulator, such as a synchronous buck converter. The synchronous buck converter includes a first switch and a second switch operated by a first control signal and a second control signal, respectively, where the first and second control signals have a corresponding phase difference. A logic circuit measures a duty cycle of an input pulse width modulated (PWM) signal against iterative changes of the phase difference between the first control signal and the second control signal. The logic circuit selects a phase difference corresponding to a minimum value of the PWM signal, thereby optimizing dead time at the synchronous buck converter. The logic circuit may include a Digital Pulse Width Modulator.
Abstract:
A link layer to physical layer (PHY) serial interface is disclosed. In one aspect, a system on a chip (SoC) integrated circuit (IC) includes a link layer circuit, and a remote IC includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) PHY circuit. A bus having four or fewer wires connects the two ICs. A link bridge communicates with the link layer circuit and serializes USB Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UTMI) signaling received from the link layer circuit as high speed (HS) USB messages for transmission to the remote IC. The link bridge also receives HS messages from the USB PHY circuit on the remote IC. The link bridge deserializes the HS messages to extract UTMI signaling and passes the extracted UTMI signaling to the link layer circuit.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for efficiently using power at a voltage regulator, such as a synchronous buck converter. The synchronous buck converter includes a first switch and a second switch operated by a first control signal and a second control signal, respectively, where the first and second control signals have a corresponding phase difference. A logic circuit measures a duty cycle of an input pulse width modulated (PWM) signal against iterative changes of the phase difference between the first control signal and the second control signal. The logic circuit selects a phase difference corresponding to a minimum value of the PWM signal, thereby optimizing dead time at the synchronous buck converter. The logic circuit may include a Digital Pulse Width Modulator.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for producing reference voltages are disclosed. An example bandgap reference circuit includes a core bandgap module that produces a bias control for biasing the gate of a transistor to produce a proportional to absolute temperature current. The core bandgap module may use an operational amplifier that uses auto-calibration to reduce its input offset voltage. A trimming module uses the bias control to produce a proportional to absolute temperature current that is combined with a trim current and supplied to a resistor and diode to produce a trimmed bandgap voltage. The trimmed bandgap voltage is buffered to produce a reference voltage output. The trim current may be set based on a room temperature measurement of the reference voltage output.
Abstract:
A link layer to physical layer (PHY) serial interface is disclosed. In one aspect, a system on a chip (SoC) integrated circuit (IC) includes a link layer circuit, and a remote IC includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) PHY circuit. A bus having four or fewer wires connects the two ICs. A link bridge communicates with the link layer circuit and serializes USB Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UTMI) signaling received from the link layer circuit as high speed (HS) USB messages for transmission to the remote IC. The link bridge also receives HS messages from the USB PHY circuit on the remote IC. The link bridge deserializes the HS messages to extract UTMI signaling and passes the extracted UTMI signaling to the link layer circuit.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit is disclosed for power multiplexing with an active load. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, a load power rail, multiple power-multiplexer tiles, and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The first power rail is at a first voltage, and the second power rail is at a second voltage. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation responsive to a power-rail switching signal. Each power-multiplexer tile switches between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is coupled to the first and second power rails and includes a comparator to produce a relative voltage signal based on the first and second voltages. The power-multiplexer control circuitry generates the power-rail switching signal based on the relative voltage signal.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed herein for adaptive power multiplexing with a power distribution network. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, and a load power rail. The integrated circuit also includes multiple power-multiplexer tiles and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and configured to jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation. Each power-multiplexer tile is configured to switch between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and coupling the load power rail to the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is configured to control a direction of current flow to prevent cross-conduction between the first power rail and the second power rail during the power-multiplexing operation.
Abstract:
Embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) debug (EUD) for multi-interfaced debugging in electronic systems are disclosed. Electronic systems contain complex integrated circuits (ICs) that require extensive testing and debugging to ensure good quality and performance. In exemplary aspects, an EUD is provided in an electronic system. The EUD is configured to send control information to and/or collect debugging information from multiple internal debugging interfaces in the electronic system. The EUD is also configured to convert the debugging information into a USB format so that the debugging information can be externally accessed through a USB interface provided by the electronic system. The EUD can provide non-invasive monitoring of the electronic system. The electronic system is able to use a USB port for communications in a mission mode while EUD is enabled. Additionally, the electronic system can turn on or off all system clocks during power-saving mode while the EUD continues to function.
Abstract:
An integrated circuit is disclosed for power multiplexing with an active load. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, a load power rail, multiple power-multiplexer tiles, and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The first power rail is at a first voltage, and the second power rail is at a second voltage. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation responsive to a power-rail switching signal. Each power-multiplexer tile switches between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is coupled to the first and second power rails and includes a comparator to produce a relative voltage signal based on the first and second voltages. The power-multiplexer control circuitry generates the power-rail switching signal based on the relative voltage signal.
Abstract:
In certain aspects, a regulator includes a variable-impedance switch coupled between a supply rail and a circuit block, wherein an impedance of the variable-impedance switch is set by an impedance code input to the variable-impedance switch. The regulator also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to convert a block supply voltage at the circuit block into a voltage code, and a controller configured to adjust the impedance code based on the voltage code in a direction that reduces a difference between the block supply voltage and a target supply voltage.