Charge-saving power-gate apparatus and method

    公开(公告)号:US09966940B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-08

    申请号:US13976156

    申请日:2011-09-23

    摘要: A power-gate circuit includes a power-gate transistor operable to switch to decouple a first supply voltage from a second supply voltage during an idle mode, and to couple the first supply voltage to the second supply voltage during a full operational mode. Part of the charge stored at a gate terminal of the power-gate transistor, would have been otherwise flushed to ground while turning on the power-gate transistor, is routed to the rail of the second supply voltage of the logic block. Part of the charge on the rail of the second supply voltage is used to charge the gate terminal of the power-gate transistor to deactivate the power-gate transistor if the logic block goes to the idle mode. Energy is saved both ways because of the charge recycling and the ability to use the power gate circuit even in cases where the duration of the idle mode may be short.

    Recursive lookup with a hardware trie structure that has no sequential logic elements

    公开(公告)号:US09899996B1

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-20

    申请号:US14556135

    申请日:2014-11-29

    摘要: A hardware trie structure includes a tree of internal node circuits and leaf node circuits. Each internal node is configured by a corresponding multi-bit node control value (NCV). Each leaf node can output a corresponding result value (RV). An input value (IV) supplied onto input leads of the trie causes signals to propagate through the trie such that one of the leaf nodes outputs one of the RVs onto output leads of the trie. In a transactional memory, a memory stores a set of NCVs and RVs. In response to a lookup command, the NCVs and RVs are read out of memory and are used to configure the trie. The IV of the lookup is supplied to the input leads, and the trie looks up an RV. A non-final RV initiates another lookup in a recursive fashion, whereas a final RV is returned as the result of the lookup command.

    Power Line Communication Smart Relay
    7.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20180048309A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-15

    申请号:US15545122

    申请日:2017-04-13

    IPC分类号: H03K17/72 H04L29/08

    摘要: A replacement smart relay having a relay, controlled by a microcontroller operably connected through a power line communication line that receives instructions from a relay controller, the relay has a simulated resistor representative of a reference resistance, the instructions pass through commands that are sent to the relay control terminals to the relay switched terminals to allow the relay to function the same as the relay it is replacing in the existing application, the instructions from the relay controller are capable of opening or closing the relay switched terminals to override a command on the relay control terminals from the existing application based on a set of vehicle conditions communicated to the relay controller, and instructions from the relay controller allow the smart relay to act deterministically when the smart relay is not actively communicating with the relay controller. A feedback circuit may be used to enhance functionality.

    INCREASED POWER EFFICIENCY IN DRIVER CIRCUITS
    10.
    发明申请
    INCREASED POWER EFFICIENCY IN DRIVER CIRCUITS 审中-公开
    驱动电路提高功率效率

    公开(公告)号:US20170067959A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-03-09

    申请号:US14845776

    申请日:2015-09-04

    IPC分类号: G01R31/28

    摘要: Methods and systems for sourcing and/or sinking current from power supplies of differing voltage levels. A driving circuit may, for example, receive power from first and second power supplies, where the first power supply provides current to the driving circuit at a first voltage level and the second power supply provides current to the driving circuit at a second voltage level, and where the first voltage is greater than the second voltage. As a result, the first power supply allows the driving circuit to provide current over a wide voltage range, and the second power supply allows the driving circuit to provide current at lower voltages with less power consumption.

    摘要翻译: 从不同电压电平的电源采集和/或吸收电流的方法和系统。 例如,驱动电路可以从第一和第二电源接收电力,其中第一电源以第一电压电平向驱动电路提供电流,并且第二电源以第二电压电平向驱动电路提供电流, 并且其中第一电压大于第二电压。 结果,第一电源允许驱动电路在宽电压范围内提供电流,并且第二电源允许驱动电路以更低的功率消耗提供较低电压的电流。