Electronic device incorporating system power supply unit and method for supplying power supply voltage
View Patent ↗An electronic device provided with a system main unit including a load powered by operational voltage. A system power supply unit, connected to the system main unit, supplies the load with the operational voltage. The system main unit includes a memory circuit for storing initial value data containing a set value for setting the operational voltage of the load. A main unit communication circuit reads the initial value data from the memory circuit and transmits the initial value data to the system power supply unit. The system power supply unit includes a power supply communication circuit for communicating with the main unit communication circuit to receive the initial value data. A voltage generation circuit generates voltage corresponding to the set value.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a system unit including a load powered by an operational voltage; and
a power supply unit connected to the system unit to supply the load with the operational voltage;
the system unit including:
a memory circuit adapted to store a set value for setting the operational voltage; and
a first communication circuit adapted to read the set value from the memory circuit and to transmit the set value to the power supply unit after an initial operational voltage is supplied; and
the power supply unit including:
a second voltage generation circuit adapted to supply the memory circuit and the first communication circuit with the initial operational voltage for operating the memory circuit and the first communication circuit;
a second communication circuit adapted to receive the set value from the first communication circuit; and
a first voltage generation circuit adapted to supply the system unit with a voltage corresponding to the set value as the operational voltage.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second voltage generation circuit is deactivated after receiving the set value.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the load is powered by a plurality of voltages;
the memory circuit stores a plurality of set values respectively corresponding to the plurality of voltages; and
the voltage generation circuit includes:
a plurality of registers adapted to respectively hold the plurality of set values; and
a plurality of DC-DC converters connected to the plurality of registers to respectively generate the plurality of voltages in accordance with the plurality of set values.
4. The electronic device according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of DC-DC converters each include a DA converter adapted to output a reference voltage that is in accordance with the corresponding set value, and the plurality of DC-DC converters respectively adjust the plurality of voltages based on the plurality of reference voltages to output a plurality of adjusted voltages.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the system unit includes:
a monitor circuit adapted to measure an operational property of the load to generate a plurality of new set values corresponding to the measurement result; and
a third communication circuit connected to the monitor circuit to transmit the plurality of new set values; and
the power supply unit includes:
a fourth communication circuit adapted to receive the plurality of new set values, with the voltage generation circuit adjusting the plurality of voltages in accordance with the plurality of new set values to output a plurality of adjusted voltages.
6. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the system unit is one of a plurality of system bodies, each including a set value and connected to the power supply unit; and
the second communication circuit receives a plurality of set values of the plurality of system bodies and stores the plurality of set values in a plurality of registers of the voltage generation circuit, respectively.
7. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein:
the plurality of system bodies include a plurality of first communication circuits;
the second communication circuit and the plurality of first communication circuits are cascade-connected;
an upstream one of the plurality of first communication circuits located near the second communication circuit receives the set value from a downstream one of the first communication circuits distant from the second communication circuit; and
the second communication circuit receives all of the set values of the plurality of system main bodies from a most upstream one of the first communication circuits.
8. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory circuit stores the set value that is set so as to compensate for variations in an operational property of the load resulting from processing variations during manufacturing.
9. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second voltage generation circuit supplies the initial operational voltage exclusively to the memory circuit and the communication circuit.
10. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the second voltage generation circuit starts supplying the initial operational voltage to the memory circuit and the communication circuit before the first voltage generation circuit starts supplying the system unit with the voltage corresponding to the set value.
11. A power supply unit for use with a system unit including a load to supply an operational voltage to the load, the system unit including a memory circuit storing a set value for setting the operational voltage, and a first communication circuit adapted to read the set value from the memory circuit to transmit the set value to the power supply unit after an initial operational voltage is supplied, the power supply unit comprising:
a second voltage generation circuit adapted to supply the memory circuit and the first communication circuit with the initial operational voltage for operating the memory circuit and the first communication circuit:
a second communication circuit adapted to receive the set value from the first communication circuit; and
a first voltage generation circuit adapted to supply the system unit with a voltage corresponding to the set value as the operational voltage.
12. The power supply unit according to claim 11 , wherein the second voltage generation circuit is inactivated after receiving the set value.
13. The power supply unit according to claim 11 , wherein:
the load is operated by a plurality of voltages;
the memory circuit stores a plurality of set values respectively corresponding to the plurality of voltages; and
the voltage generation circuit includes:
a plurality of registers to respectively hold the plurality of set values; and
a plurality of DC-DC converters connected to the plurality of registers to respectively generate the plurality of voltages in accordance with the plurality of set values.
14. The power supply unit according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of DC-DC converters each include a DA converter to output a reference voltage that is in accordance with a corresponding set value, and the plurality of DC-DC converters respectively adjust the plurality of voltages based on the plurality of reference voltages to output a plurality of adjusted voltages.
15. The power supply unit according to claim 11 , wherein the system unit includes a monitor circuit adapted to measure an operational property of the load to generate a plurality of new set values corresponding to the measurement result, and a third communication circuit connected to the monitor circuit to transmit the plurality of new set values, the power supply unit further comprising:
a fourth communication circuit to receive the plurality of new set values, with the voltage generation circuit adjusting the plurality of voltages in accordance with the plurality of new set values to output a plurality of adjusted voltages.
16. The power supply unit according to claim 11 , wherein:
the system unit is one of a plurality of system bodies, each including set value and connected to the power supply unit; and
the second communication circuit receives a plurality of set values of the plurality of system bodies and stores the plurality of set values in a plurality of registers of the voltage generation circuit, respectively.
17. The power supply unit according to claim 16 , wherein:
the plurality of system bodies include a plurality of first communication circuits;
the second communication circuit and the plurality of first communication circuits are cascade-connected when the power supply unit is connected to the plurality of system bodies; and
the second communication circuit receives all of the set values of the plurality of system main bodies from a most upstream one of the first communication circuits.
18. A method for supplying an operational voltage from a power supply unit to a load of a system unit connected to the power supply unit, the method comprising:
storing a set value for setting an operational voltage in a memory circuit of the system unit;
supplying from a second voltage generation circuit of the power supply unit to the memory circuit and a first communication circuit of the system unit with an initial operational voltage for operating the memory circuit and the first communication circuit;
reading the set value stored in the memory circuit to transmit the set value via the first communication circuit to a second communication circuit of the power supply unit;
receiving the set value at the second communication circuit of the power supply unit;
supplying a voltage corresponding to the set value as the operational voltage from the power supply unit; and
decreasing supply of the initial voltage to the memory circuit and the first communication circuit of the system unit after the power supply unit receives the set value from the system unit.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the decreasing includes stopping the supply of the initial operational voltage to the memory circuit and the first communication circuit after receiving the set value.
20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the load is operated by a plurality of voltages, and the memory circuit stores a plurality of set values respectively corresponding to the plurality of voltages, the method further comprising:
holding the plurality of set values with the power supply unit; and
generating the plurality of voltages in accordance with the plurality of set values with a plurality of DC-DC converters of the power supply unit.
21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising:
outputting a plurality of reference voltages respectively in accordance with the plurality of set values; and
adjusting the plurality of voltages respectively based on the plurality of reference voltages to output a plurality of adjusted voltages.
22. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
measuring an operational property of the load with the system unit and generating a plurality of new set values corresponding to the measurement result;
transmitting the plurality of new set values from the system unit to the power supply unit; and
adjusting the plurality of voltages with the power supply unit in accordance with the plurality of new set values and outputting a plurality of adjusted voltages.
23. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the system unit is one of a plurality of system bodies, each including set value and connected to the power supply unit, the method further comprising:
storing a plurality of set values of the plurality of system bodies with the memory circuit of the power supply unit.
24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the plurality of system bodies include a plurality of cascade-connected first communication circuits, and the power supply unit includes the power supply communication circuit connected to a most upstream one of the first communication circuits, the method further comprising:
receiving all of the set values of the plurality of system main bodies from the most upstream one of the first communication circuits with the second communication circuit.