Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Fabrice Blisson

Alexandre Malherbe

Marc Sabut

Sylvain Engels

Severin Trochut

Jean-Luc Moro

Nicolas L'Hostis

Emilie Rigal

Nicolas Seller

ClaireMarie Lachaud

Gilles Debeurme

A chain of switches is connected between a first power supply line coupled to a first voltage and a second power supply line coupled to the sector. These switches are controllable by a control signal. The control signal is propagated from a first end of the first chain towards a second end of the first chain without control of the switches during this first propagation. The control signal is then propagated in the reverse direction from the second end towards the first end with a control of the switches during this second propagation starting from a group of at least one switch situated at the second end. There is a detection of the arrival of the control signal at the first end of the chain at the end of its propagation in the reverse direction.

Method and device for management of an electrical power-up of a sector of an electronic circuit

A method for controlling the power supply of an integrated circuit, the power supply comprising a power supply unit powered by a main voltage and possessing several transistor groups, comprising turning on in succession at least two transistor groups in order to deliver, as an output from each group, to at least one part of the integrated circuit, an elementary supply voltage derived from the main voltage, characterized in that the method comprises at least one elementary power phase for supplying power to said at least one part of the integrated circuit, wherein the phase comprises defining voltage thresholds respectively associated with the transistor groups, turning on a first transistor group, the first group delivering a first elementary supply voltage and turning on at least one second group when the first elementary supply voltage is higher than or equal to the voltage threshold associated with the second group.

Method and apparatus for controlling power supply

A voltage regulator includes an amplifier and a regulation loop. The regulator includes a first PMOS transistor connected to a terminal supplying an input voltage, a second PMOS transistor connected in series with the first PMOS transistor. A node between those two transistors defines an output terminal. A first source of a first polarization current of fixed value is connected to the gate of the first transistor, and a second source of a second polarization current of fixed value connects the second transistor to ground. A third NMOS transistor is connected between the two current sources. A circuit is provided to modify automatically at least one of the polarization currents in relation to the load current.

Voltage regulator with self-adaptive loop

A device is provided for managing the current consumption peak on each powering-up of a domain in an electronic circuit. A plurality of domains are present and a global power supply grid provides power. Each domain is selectively supplied by a local supply grid connected to the global supply grid via a plurality of commanded switch transistors. A pre-charge transistor is used to pre-charge a domain at powering-up. A command circuit controls operation of the switch transistors through an analog command signal whose slew rate is controlled to ensure that switch transistor conduction is delayed to enable the pre-charge circuit to charge the domain to a sufficient degree that activation of the switch transistor will not draw excessive current. A detection circuit is configured to compare the instant value of the supply voltage with a fixed reference supply voltage and/or to compare, with the value of a fixed command voltage, the instant value of the differential voltage between the global supply voltage and the command voltage.

Device for managing the consumption peak of a domain on each powering-up

An integrated circuit with a D.C./D.C. voltage regulator and its manufacturing process, including at least one power stage provided with at least two transistors and with at least one capacitor connecting a control electrode of the transistor to a reference voltage, a same control stage of the regulator providing a control signal of said transistors, the power stage being formed under a rail that provides supply signals of the integrated circuit, the rail providing at least two limiting supply voltages coming from the outside of the integrated circuit and at least one voltage regulated by the voltage regulator.

Circuit with an integrated voltage regulator and its manufacturing process

The forming of an integrated circuit including at least one element of electronic protection of the circuit formed of at least one switch for short-circuiting supply conductors arranged in a rail, the switch being integrated in the rail, under said conductors.

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Grenoble, France

Fabrice Blisson