Dual supply memory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9647453-B2
Application number	US-201414158759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2014
Priority date	Aug 2, 2013
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a first power supply configured to generate a first power signal having one of a plurality of voltages, and a second power supply configured to generate a second power signal that includes a voltage equal to or higher than a voltage of the first power signal. The apparatus may include a first electrical circuit configured to be powered by the first power supply. The apparatus may also include a power mode controller configured to: determine the voltage of the first power signal during the next power state, and generate a selector control signal based upon the voltage of the first power signal. The apparatus may also include a power supply selector configured to dynamically electrically couple a second electrical circuit with either the first power signal or the second power signal, based upon the selector control signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first power supply configured to generate a first power signal having one of a plurality of voltages based upon a selected power state;
a second power supply configured to simultaneously generate a second power signal that includes a second voltage higher than a first voltage of the first power signal, and a third power signal that includes a third voltage that is higher than the first voltage of the first power signal and less than the second voltage of the second power signal;
a first electrical circuit configured to be powered by the first power signal;
a second electrical circuit configured to be powered by either the first power signal, the second power signal, or the third power signal;
a power mode controller configured to:
receive a signal indicating a next power state,
determine the voltage of the first power signal during the next power state, and
generate a selector control signal based upon a comparison of the voltage of the first power signal during the next power state to a predefined voltage level; and

a power supply selector configured to dynamically electrically couple the second electrical circuit with either the first power signal, the second power signal, or the third power signal, based at least in part upon the selector control signal;
wherein the power supply selector is configured to:
dynamically electrically couple the second electrical circuit with the first power supply if a difference between the voltage of the first power signal and the voltage of the second power signal becomes lower than a threshold amount, and
dynamically electrically couple the second electrical circuit with the second power supply if the difference between the voltage of the first power signal and the voltage of the second power signal, becomes greater than the threshold amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical circuit includes a first portion of a memory and the second electrical circuit includes a second portion of the memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power mode controller is configured to generate the selector control signal based upon definitions of each of a plurality of power states, wherein each definition includes one or more of an operating frequency, a voltage of the first power signal during the respective power state, and a voltage of the second power signal during the respective power state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store definitions of each of a plurality of power states, wherein each definition includes one or more of an operating frequency, a voltage of the first power signal during the respective power state, and a voltage of the second power signal during the respective power state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein at least part of the definition of the plurality of power states are determined during a testing period of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first power supply is configured to dynamically adjust, based upon a selected power state, an operating frequency and the voltage of the first power signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power supply selector is configured to:
dynamically electrically decouple the second electrical circuit from both the first power supply and the second power supply if the second electrical circuit is operating in a low power mode; and
if the second electrical circuit is operating in a single supply mode, dynamically electrically decouple the second electrical circuit from the second power supply, and dynamically electrically couple the first electrical circuit with the first power supply.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes:
one or more combinatorial logic blocks configured to be powered by the first power supply; and
wherein the power mode controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the voltage of the first power supply based upon the selected power state.

9. A method comprising:
receiving a signal that indicates a next power state;
simultaneously generating a first power signal, a second power signal, and a third power signal, each having different voltages;
determining a magnitude of the first power signal associated with the next power state;
powering a first electrical circuit with the first power signal;
comparing the magnitude of the first power signal to at least one predetermined magnitude level; and
dynamically electrically coupling a second electrical circuit with either the first power signal, the second power signal, or the third power signal, based at least in part upon the magnitude of the first power signal compared to the at least one predetermined magnitude level;
wherein the magnitude of the first power signal dynamically changes; and
wherein dynamically electrically coupling a second electrical circuit with either the second power signal or the first power signal includes switching between either the second power signal or the first power signal, based, at least in part, upon the dynamic change in the magnitude of the first power signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first electrical circuit includes a first portion of a memory and the second electrical circuit includes a second portion of the memory.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein dynamically electrically coupling a second electrical circuit with either the first power signal or a second power signal comprises:
generating a selector control signal based upon definitions of each of a plurality of power states, wherein each definition includes one or more of an operating frequency and a voltage of the first power signal during the respective power state.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein dynamically electrically coupling includes:
receiving a first electrical signal that indicates a voltage of the first power signal during the next power state, and
receiving a second electrical signal that indicates a voltage of the second power signal during the next power state.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including, if the first electrical circuit is operating in a low power mode, ceasing to power the first electrical circuit with the first power signal; and
if the second electrical circuit is operating in a low power mode, dynamically electrically decoupling the second electrical circuit from both the second power signal, and the first power signal.

14. A system comprising:
a power supply comprising:
a first power generator configured to generate a first power signal having one of a plurality of voltages based upon a selected power state,
a second power generator configured to generate a second power signal that includes a voltage higher than a voltage of the first power signal, and
a third power generator configured to generate a third power signal that includes a voltage higher than the voltage of the first power signal and less than the voltage of the second power signal,
wherein power supply outputs the first power signal, the second power signal, and the third power signal substantially simultaneously;

a memory comprising:
a first portion of the memory configured to be powered by the first power signal, and
a second portion of the memory configured to be powered by either the third power signal, the second power signal, or the first power signal;

a power mode controller configured to:
receive a signal indicating a next power state,
determine the voltage of the first power signal during the next power state, and
generate a selector control signal based upon a comparison of the voltage of the first power signal during the next pow

Assignees

• Kenkare Prashant
• Millar Brian
• Helms Frank Philip
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kenkare Prashant
• Millar Brian
• Helms Frank Philip

Classifications

• H02J1/082

  DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels · CPC title

• Y10T307/391

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H02J1/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for DC mains or DC distribution networks · CPC title

• G11C5/147 Primary

  Voltage reference generators, voltage or current regulators; Internally lowered supply levels; Compensation for voltage drops (G11C5/141 takes precedence) · CPC title