Circuit and method for operating a circuit
View Patent ↗A circuit and method for operating a circuit is provided that includes a circuit section that has a number of memory elements, a first voltage regulator that can be connected or is connected to the circuit section in order to operate the circuit section, a second voltage regulator that can be connected or is connected to the circuit section in order to preserve an information item stored in the memory elements, a switching device that is connected to the circuit section and is designed to deactivate and activate inputs of the circuit section. The circuit being configured to control a deactivation and activation of the first voltage regulator and the deactivation and activation of the inputs of the circuit section.
1. A circuit comprising:
a first voltage regulator;
a second voltage regulator; and
a circuit section, the circuit section comprising a memory element and operable to:
receive a supply voltage from the first voltage regulator when in an operating mode;
transition from the operating mode to a sleep mode, the transition comprising deactivation of inputs of the circuit section; and
receive a standby voltage from the second voltage regulator when in the sleep mode, the standby voltage being less than the supply voltage and sufficient to preserve an information item stored in the memory element.
2. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device operable to:
receive a control signal from the first voltage regulator; and
deactivate the inputs of the circuit section in response to the control signal.
3. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device operable to:
receive a control signal from the circuit section; and
deactivate the first voltage regulator in response to the control signal.
4. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the circuit section is operable to transition from the sleep mode to the operating mode.
5. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additional circuit section; and
a switch connectable to the additional circuit section and to the second voltage regulator, the switch in a state for the sleep mode configured to separate the additional circuit section from the second voltage regulator.
6. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the first voltage regulator comprises a control loop connectable through a voltage divider to a supply voltage output of the first voltage regulator.
7. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a reset device configured to issue reset signals for resetting the circuit section.
8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the reset device is connectable to the first voltage regulator and is configured to activate the first voltage regulator upon an initial application of an input voltage to the circuit.
9. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the reset device is configured to enable an activation of the first voltage regulator by the circuit section.
10. A method comprising:
delivering to a circuit section of a circuit a supply voltage from a first voltage regulator when in an operating mode;
transitioning from the operating mode to a sleep mode, the transition comprising deactivation of inputs of the circuit section; and
delivering to the circuit section a standby voltage from a second voltage regulator when in the sleep mode, the standby voltage being less than the supply voltage and sufficient to preserve an information item stored in a memory element.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
receiving a control signal from the first voltage regulator; and
deactivating the inputs of the circuit section in response to the control signal.
12. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
receiving a control signal from the circuit section; and
deactivating the first voltage regulator in response to the control signal.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transitioning from the sleep mode to the operating mode.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the circuit comprises:
an additional circuit section; and
a switch connectable to the additional circuit section and to the second voltage regulator, the switch in a state for the sleep mode configured to separate the additional circuit section from the second voltage regulator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first voltage regulator of the first and second voltage regulators has a control loop, the control loop connectable to a supply voltage output of the first voltage regulator through a voltage divider.
16. The method of claim 10 comprising issuing a reset signal for resetting the circuit section.
17. The method of claim 16 comprising activating the first voltage regulator upon an initial application of an input voltage to the circuit.
18. The method of claim 16 comprising enabling an activation of the first voltage regulator by the circuit section.
19. A circuit comprising:
means for delivering to a circuit section a supply voltage from a first voltage regulator when in an operating mode;
means for transitioning from the operating mode to a sleep mode, the transition comprising deactivation of inputs of the circuit section; and
means for delivering to the circuit section a standby voltage from a second voltage regulator when in the sleep mode, the standby voltage being less than the supply voltage and sufficient to preserve an information item stored in a memory element.