True power shedding
View Patent ↗Described herein are mechanisms and methods for blocking the propagation of signals to Integrated Circuit (IC) components that have been power gated, rather than simply suffering from leakage through signals that might not be parked in a low state. In some embodiments, switches that block the flow of current in such signals may enable turning off power to any IC component and not just to circuits on an IC component that make sole use of protocols that are friendly to power gating. This may advantageously increase power savings, by permitting more portions of a system in an idle state to be power gated, or by reducing or eliminating leakage in signals on boundaries of blocks being power gated, or both.
1. A machine-readable storage medium having machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause one or more machines to perform a method comprising:
closing a first switchable electrical connection, wherein the first switchable electrical connection carries a supply voltage from an interposer interconnect element to an integrated circuit (IC) component fastened to and electrically connected to the interposer interconnect element; and
closing a second switchable electrical connection, wherein the second switchable electrical connection carries a one or more data signal and one or more control signals from the interposer interconnect element to the IC component, and wherein the first switchable electrical connection and the second switchable electrical connection are closed in a sequence such that the first switchable electrical connection is to close before the second switchable electrical connection.
2. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
opening the first switchable electrical connection and the second switchable electrical connection at substantially a same time.
3. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
programming the interposer interconnect element.
4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
dynamically programming the interposer interconnect element.
5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
closing the first switchable electrical connection after closing the second switchable electrical connection.
6. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
closing a third switchable electrical connection, wherein the third switchable electrical connection is to carry from the interposer interconnect element to the IC component a ground voltage.
7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6 having further machine-executable instructions stored there on that, when executed, cause the one or more machines to perform a further method comprising:
closing the third switchable electrical connection prior to closing the second switchable electrical connection.
8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the interposer interconnect element is coupled to a pull-up resistor, which is coupled to a power supply line and a signal interface, and wherein the power supply line is coupled to the first switchable electrical connection, and wherein the signal interface is coupled to the second switchable electrical connection.
9. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the power supply line is coupled to a battery.
10. An apparatus comprising:
an interposer interconnect element;
an integrated circuit (IC) component fastened to and electrically coupled to the interposer interconnect element; and
at least three switches coupled to the interposer interconnect element, wherein the at least three switches include a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, wherein the first switch is operable to provide a power supply voltage to the IC component, wherein the second switch is operable to provide a data signal to the IC component, and wherein the third switch is operable to provide a ground to the IC component.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch close in a sequence.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the third switch is closed prior to the second switch.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second switch is closed prior to the first switch.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are operable to open at substantially a same time.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 comprising a pull-up resistor coupled between a supply line that provides the power supply voltage, and a single line that provides the data signal.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the interposer interconnect element is dynamically programmable.
17. A system comprising:
an interposer interconnect element;
a processor, a radio, a memory, and a sensor on the interposer interconnect element, and
a first switch operable to provide a power supply voltage to one or more of the processor, the radio, the memory, or the sensor, wherein the interposer interconnect element includes at least two switches including a second switch and a third switch, wherein the second switch is operable to provide a data signal to the processor, and wherein the third switch is operable to provide a ground to the processor.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first switch and the second switch are operable to open at substantially a same time.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch close in a sequence.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the third switch is closed prior to the second switch, wherein the second switch is closed prior to the first switch.