Ambiq Micro, Inc.

Ivan Bogue

Yousof Mortazavi

Jesse Coulon

Rajeev Srivastava

Yanning Lu

Andre Belanger

Bharath Mandyam

A buck converter may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.

Voltage regulator with high and low power modes

A system for determining a power requirement for a device powered by a buck converter on a system on chip based on Time on pulses (Ton) is disclosed. A buck converter supplies output voltage to enable the device. The buck converter is driven by a Ton pulse generator generating Ton pulses to control charging of a load capacitor. A counter counts the Ton pulses during the supply of output voltage while the device is enabled. A controller is coupled to the counter and the buck converter. The controller determines the power requirement for the device based on the count of the Ton pulses. The power requirement may be used to adjust the trim value to change the width of the Ton pulses for greater energy efficiency.

System for profiling power using ton pulses

A system comprises a microcontroller system comprising a CPU, an I/O module, and a microcontroller system power input, a power supply comprising a first power supply output providing power at a first power level, and a second power supply output providing power at a second power level, and a switch comprising a signal input communicatively coupled to the I/O module and configured to receive a status signal from the I/O module, a first switch power input electrically coupled to the first power supply output, a second switch power input electrically coupled to the second power supply output, and a switch power output electrically coupled to the microcontroller system power input and configured to output power to the microcontroller system.

System for providing power to low power systems

In some embodiments, a system comprises a microcontroller system comprising a CPU, an I/O module, and a microcontroller system power input, a power supply comprising a first power supply output providing power at a first power level, and a second power supply output providing power at a second power level, and a switch comprising a signal input communicatively coupled to the I/O module and configured to receive a status signal from the I/O module, a first switch power input electrically coupled to the first power supply output, a second switch power input electrically coupled to the second power supply output, and a switch power output electrically coupled to the microcontroller system power input and configured to output power to the microcontroller system.

Buck converter with inductor sensor

A buck converter is disclosed that may operate in a low power mode or a high power mode based on a power requirements of a load. In the high power mode, modifications to increase frequency response include a higher polling frequency for a comparator, a lower impedance divider in a feedback circuit, a higher biasing current for a comparator, and larger switches for providing current to a reactive step-down circuit of the buck converter. In the low power mode these modifications are reversed. The buck converter may make use of an improved strong arm comparator and a circuit for sensing presence of an inductor in the reactive step-down circuit.

Buck converter with power saving mode

Strong arm comparator

A reference voltage sub-system that allows fast power up after spending extended periods in an ultra-low power standby mode. The reference voltage sub-system includes a reference voltage buffer, a reference voltage keeper, an active calibration facility for selectively adjusting the reference voltage keeper output to match the reference voltage buffer output, and a selection means for selecting between the reference voltage buffer output and the reference voltage keeper output.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Ivan Bogue