Power management integrated circuit using a flexible script-based configurator and method for power management

Abstract

A power management integrated circuit incorporates (a) a microprocessor; (b) a non-volatile memory accessible by the microprocessor for storing programs executable by the microprocessor; (c) a random access memory accessible by the microprocessor; (d) an external interface which allows an external device to communicate with the power management integrated circuit; and (e) power regulators providing regulated output voltages from the power management integrated circuit, each power regulator being controllable by the microprocessor and the external interface over the register-controlled bus. A second external interface may be provided, which is used to provide a configuration file descriptive of power requirements of a system in which the power management integrated circuit is deployed. Such a system may include a system-on-a-chip (SOC) integrated circuit. Initially, the microprocessor of the power management integrated circuit executes a power sequence to provide the power-up power supply voltages to the SOC integrated circuit. Thereafter, the SOC integrated circuit controls power-up sequences for the peripheral devices. The configuration file is derived from a script file that is editable by a text editor or a word processor. The script file may be based on a scripting language that allows specifying control of the power regulators of the power management integrated circuit.