Intel Corporation

Henry W Koertzen

Joseph T Dibene, Ii

Son H Lam

Steven D Patzer

Lilly Huang

Peng Zou

John Thomas Sprietsma

Fenardi Thenus

Raghu Chepuri

Stephen C Fenwick

Jospeh T Dibene, Ii

Jane Oglesby

Dave Gordon

In accordance with some embodiments, margining routines to determine acceptable voltage command values for specific CPU implementations at one or more different operating levels may be provided.

Supply margining Method and apparatus

Supply margining method and apparatus

Described is a soft-start scheme for a voltage regulator. The apparatus comprises: a first voltage regulator to provide regulated voltage to an output node coupled to a load, the first voltage regulator operable to be in open loop via a bypass unit, the first voltage regulator including a comparator; and a second voltage regulator, coupled to the first voltage regulator, operable to be in closed loop, via the bypass unit, to provide a reference voltage for the comparator of the first voltage regulator.

Apparatus for starting up switching voltage regulator

Disclosed is a switching voltage regulator circuitry controlled to supply a voltage to at least a portion of an integrated circuit (IC). Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is received. The switching voltage regulator circuitry is controlled to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part on the received information. Disclosed is a voltage received for a power state of at least a portion of an IC having first logic to perform one or more functions and second logic integrated with the first logic. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is sent from the second logic to voltage regulator control logic to adjust the voltage to a different value.

Supply voltage control based at least in part on power state of integrated circuit

A power manager includes a converter and a controller. The converter is coupled between first and second energy storage devices, and the controller controls transfer of power between the first and second energy storage devices through the converter. The first energy storage device is to supply power to a first power subsystem of an electronic device, and the second energy storage device is to supply power to a second power subsystem of the electronic device. The subsystem may have different operating voltage requirements. When a level of the second battery falls below a first reference value, the controller controls the transfer of power from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device. A transfer of power in a reverse direction may occur when a level of the first energy storage device falls below a second reference value.

Apparatus and method for controlling transfer of power between energy storage devices through a converter

In some embodiments, the number of active cells in a multi-cell voltage regulator is controlled so that the current-per-active-cell approaches a predefined target or to be within an acceptable range so that the active cells operate with suitable efficiency.

Multi-cell voltage regulator

For one disclosed embodiment, switching voltage regulator circuitry may be controlled to supply a voltage to at least a portion of an integrated circuit. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the integrated circuit may be received. The switching voltage regulator circuitry may be controlled to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part on the received information. For another disclosed embodiment, a voltage may be received for a power state of at least a portion of an integrated circuit having first logic to perform one or more functions and second logic integrated with the first logic. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the integrated circuit may be sent from the second logic to voltage regulator control logic to adjust the voltage to a different value. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A voltage regulator is provided that includes a power cell to provide a calibrated output voltage based on a voltage identification (VID) offset, and a master controller to provide a VID code to the power cell. The power cell to calibrate the output voltage based on the VID code received from the master controller and based on the VID offset.

Voltage regulator and method of calibrating the same

An apparatus includes a first voltage regulator that is controlled to provide an output voltage that matches a reference voltage. The apparatus further includes a second voltage regulator that is coupled to an output of the first voltage regulator and controlled to minimize a current output from the first voltage regulator.

Parallel-connected voltage regulators for supplying power to integrated circuit so that second regulator minimizes current output from first regulator

A power supply system, a circuit board, and a computer, as well as a method of providing power to a circuit element are disclosed. The power supply system may include two or more voltage sources coupled to a circuit element. The voltage output of one voltage source may be coupled to one portion of a plurality of power and return connection terminals on the circuit element, and the voltage output of another voltage source may be coupled to another portion of the plurality of power and return connection terminals. The method may include selecting the portions of the power and return connection terminals, and connecting voltage sources to the selected portions.

Growing community of inventors

Olympia, WA, United States of America

Henry W Koertzen