Power managers for an integrated circuit

• Main Author: HOBERMAN BARRY A.,HILLMAN DANIEL L.,SHIELL JON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.08.2006
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

A system (200) for independently controlling power consumption within a power island (260) of an integrated circuit (250), the system comprising: the power island (260); a power control circuitry, coupled to a power supply and configured to control power supplied to the power island; a voltage regulator circuitry (630) configured to control the power control circuitry; a feedback logic circuitry configured to collect information on actual power supplied to the power island; and a power manager (280) configured to: determine (504) a target power level for the power island based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit, determine (508) an action to change a power consumption level of the power island to the target power level, and perform (524) the determined action to change the power consumption level of the power island to the target power level, the action comprising changing the voltage supply for the power island based on the collected information.