Method and system for providing voltage
View Patent ↗A system and method to provide voltage to a device from the operating mode of an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the disclosed system includes an integrated circuit having an input/output pin and a DC-DC converter circuit that is coupled to the input/output pin and including a transistor element. The DC-DC converter circuit has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the DC-DC converter circuit performs voltage conversion and in the second mode of operation, the transistor element of the DC-DC converter circuit is used to selectively apply a voltage supply to an external module coupled to the input/output pin.
1. An integrated circuit device comprising:
an input/output pin;
a first direct current to direct current converter circuit coupled to the input/output pin and including a transistor element,
wherein the first direct current to direct current converter circuit has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the first direct current to direct current converter circuit performs voltage conversion and in the second mode of operation no voltage conversion is performed by the first direct current to direct current converter circuit and the transistor element is used to selectively apply a voltage supply from a second direct current to direct current converter circuit within the integrated circuit device to an external module coupled to the input/output pin.
2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the external module is a peripheral component.
3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein in the second mode of operation, the transistor element is controlled by a software control function.
4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the external module detects a power on reset condition in response to receiving the voltage supply.
5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the mode of operation is controlled by a multiplexer.
6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising: an internal module to determine a battery configuration mode.
7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 , wherein the internal module is operable to control the first direct current to direct current converter circuit mode of operation.
8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first direct current to direct current converter circuit is incorporated in a portable audio device.
9. The integrated circuit of claim 8 , wherein the external module is capable of storing audio files.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the external module is capable of storing MP3 files.
11. A method comprising:
determining a battery configuration of an integrated circuit; and
selectively setting a mode of operation of a first direct current to direct current converter circuit embedded within the integrated circuit to a first mode or a second mode of operation, wherein during the first mode of operation the first direct current to direct current converter circuit performs voltage conversion and during the second mode of operation no voltage conversion is performed by the first direct current to direct current converter circuit and a transistor element of the first direct current to direct current converter circuit is used to selectively control application of a voltage supply from a second direct current to direct current converter circuit within the integrated circuit to an external device.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
controlling the transistor element using a software control element within the integrated circuit device during the second mode of operation.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
initiating a power on reset condition at the external device in response to providing the voltage supply applied to the input/output pin.
14. A system comprising:
a first integrated circuit comprising:
an input/output pin;
a first direct current to direct current converter circuit coupled to the input/output pin and including a transistor element,
wherein the first direct current to direct current converter circuit has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the first direct current to direct current converter circuit performs voltage conversion and in the second mode of operation no voltage conversion is performed by the first direct current to direct current converter circuit and the transistor element of the first direct current to direct current converter circuit is used to selectively apply a voltage from a second direct current to direct current converter circuit within the first integrated circuit to the input/output pin; and
a second integrated circuit having an input coupled to the input/output pin of the first integrated circuit.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second integrated circuit is a peripheral device that is coupled to the first integrated circuit without an intervening transistor element.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first and second integrated circuits are incorporated in a portable audio player.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second integrated circuit is capable of processing audio files.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second integrated circuit is capable of processing MP3 files.