Frequency-dependent voltage control in digital logic
View Patent ↗An electronic circuit comprises at least one digital logic circuit; and a power control circuit. The power control circuit is operable to adjust the voltage of a power signal supplied to the at least one digital logic circuit in response to a change in a clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit. In a further embodiment, the power controller is operable to increase the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit before a frequency increase is made, and is operable to decrease the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit after a frequency decrease is made.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one digital logic circuit; and
a power control circuit operable to adjust the voltage of a power signal supplied to the at least one digital logic circuit in response to a change in a clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit;
wherein the power control circuit is operable to increase the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit before a clock frequency increase is made and is operable to decrease the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit after a clock frequency decrease is made;
wherein the adjusted voltage is determined based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, a semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and a highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit;
wherein the temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, the semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and the highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit are stored in a table.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power control circuit is further operable to control the clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power control circuit is operable to change the voltage of the power signal applied to a plurality of digital logic circuits based on at least one of the frequency, temperature, or semiconductor process parameter of the digital logic circuit having the highest voltage demand from the plurality of digital logic circuits.
4. A method of controlling power in a computerized electronic system, comprising:
adjusting the voltage of a power signal supplied to at least one digital logic circuit in response to a change in a clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit such that the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is increased before a clock frequency increase is made and the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is decreased after a clock frequency decrease is made, wherein the adjusted voltage is determined based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, a semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and a highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit;
wherein the temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, the semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and the highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit are stored in a table.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising controlling the clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the adjusted voltage is based on at least one of the frequency, temperature, or semiconductor process parameter of the digital logic circuit having a highest operating voltage requirement from among two or more digital logic circuits.
7. A system, comprising:
at least one digital logic circuit; and
a power control circuit operable to adjust the voltage of a power signal supplied to the at least one digital logic circuit in response to a change in a clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit, such that the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is increased before a clock frequency increase is made and the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is decreased after a clock frequency decrease is made;
wherein the adjusted voltage is determined based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, a semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and a highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit;
wherein the temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, the semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and the highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit are stored in a table.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the power control circuit is further operable to control the clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the power control circuit is operable to change the voltage of the power signal applied to a plurality of digital logic circuits based on at least one of the frequency, temperature, or semiconductor process parameter of the digital logic circuit having a highest voltage demand from among the plurality of digital logic circuits.
10. A power controller operable to:
adjust the voltage of a power signal supplied to at least one digital logic circuit in response to a change in a clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit such that the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is increased before a clock frequency increase is made and the voltage of the power signal applied to the digital logic circuit is decreased after a clock frequency decrease is made;
wherein the adjusted voltage is determined based on at least one of a temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, a semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and a highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit;
wherein the temperature of the at least one digital logic circuit, the semiconductor process parameter of the at least one digital logic circuit, and the highest operating frequency within the at least one digital logic circuit are stored in a table.
11. The power controller of claim 10 , further comprising controlling the clock frequency provided to the at least one digital logic circuit.
12. The power controller of claim 10 , wherein the adjusted voltage is based on at least one of the frequency, temperature, or semiconductor process parameter of the digital logic circuit having a highest voltage demand from among two or more of the at least one digital logic circuits.