MCU with on-chip boost converter controller
An integrated system on a chip includes processing circuitry that performs predefined digital processing functions on the chip. The processing circuitry operates responsive to a regulated voltage. An on-chip boost converter generates the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off chip voltage source. The regulated voltage source has a voltage level greater than the off-chip voltage.
1. An integrated system on a chip, comprising:
a microcontroller unit for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip, said processing circuitry operating responsive to a regulated voltage;
off-chip reactive components; and
an on-chip boost converter controller circuit connected only to the off-chip reactive components for generating the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off-chip voltage source, wherein the regulated voltage is greater than the off-chip voltage, wherein the on-chip boost converter circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation providing a first power efficiency response and to operate in a second mode of operation providing a second power efficiency response wherein the on-chip boost converter controller circuit further comprises:
a zero volt turn-on rectifier, wherein the zero volt turn-on rectifier further includes a first transistor associated with the first mode of operation and a second transistor associated with the second mode of operation, the first and second transistors selected responsive to control signals provided by the microcontroller unit.
2. The integrated system of claim 1 , further including an output pin connected to the regulated voltage to selectively provide the regulated voltage to an external load.
3. The integrated system of claim 1 , wherein the off-chip reactive components further comprise:
an inductor connected to receive the off-chip voltage;
a capacitor connected to a regulated voltage output node.
4. The integrated system of claim 3 , wherein the on-chip boost converter controller circuit further comprises:
a zero volt turn-on rectifier connected between the inductor and the output voltage node; and
a transistor switch connected between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground; and
switching control circuitry for controlling the transistor switch responsive to the regulated voltage.
5. The integrated system of claim 1 , wherein the on-chip boost converter circuit further comprises:
an inductor connected to receive the off-chip voltage;
a load capacitor connected to a regulated voltage output node;
a plurality of transistor switches connected in parallel between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground, wherein a first transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches is a associated with the first mode of operation and a second transistor of the plurality of transistor switches is associated with the second mode of operation, the first and second transistor switches selected responsive to the control signals provided by the microcontroller unit; and
switching control circuitry for controlling at least one transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches responsive to the regulated voltage.
6. The integrated system of claim 5 , wherein the control signals generated by the processing circuitry are generated responsive to a power efficiency of the integrated system on a chip circuitry.
7. The integrated system of claim 1 , further including a low drop out regulator for generating a second regulated voltage responsive to the regulated voltage provided by the on-chip boost converter circuit in a third mode of operation and for generating the second regulated voltage responsive to the off-chip voltage in a fourth mode of operation, wherein the second regulated voltage is less than the regulated voltage.
8. The integrated system of claim 7 , wherein the boost regulator may be disabled in the second mode of operation.
9. An integrated system on a chip, comprising:
processing circuitry for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip, said processing circuitry operating responsive to a regulated voltage;
off-chip reactive components;
an on-chip boost converter controller circuit connected only to the off-chip reactive components for generating the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off-chip voltage source, wherein the regulated voltage is greater than the off-chip voltage, wherein the on-chip boost converter controller circuit further comprises:
a zero volt turn-on rectifier, wherein the zero volt turn-on rectifier further includes a first transistor associated with a first mode of operation and a second transistor associated with a second mode of operation, the first and second transistors selected responsive to control signals provided by the processing circuitry;
a low drop out regulator for generating a second regulated voltage responsive to the regulated voltage provided by the on-chip boost converter circuit in a third mode of operation and for generating the second regulated voltage responsive to the off-chip voltage in a fourth mode of operation, wherein the second regulated voltage is less than the regulated voltage; and
wherein the boost regulator may be disabled in the second mode of operation.
10. The integrated system of claim 9 , further including an output pin connected to the regulated voltage to selectively provide the regulated voltage to an external load.
11. The integrated system of claim 9 , wherein the off-chip reactive components further comprise:
an inductor connected to receive the off-chip voltage; and
a capacitor connected to a regulated voltage output node.
12. The integrated system of claim 11 , wherein the on-chip boost converter controller circuit further comprises:
a transistor switch connected between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground; and
switching control circuitry for controlling the transistor switch responsive to the regulated voltage.
13. The integrated system of claim 11 , wherein the on-chip boost converter circuit further comprises:
an inductor connected to receive the off-chip voltage;
a load capacitor connected to a regulated voltage output node;
a plurality of transistor switches connected in parallel between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground, wherein a first transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches is associated with the first mode of operation and a second transistor of the plurality of transistor switches is associated with the second mode of operation, the first and second transistor switches selected responsive to the control signals provided by the processing circuitry; and
switching control circuitry for controlling at least one transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches responsive to the regulated voltage.
14. The integrated system of claim 13 , wherein the control signals generated by the processing circuitry are generated responsive to a power efficiency of the integrated system on a chip circuitry.
15. An integrated system on a chip, comprising:
processing circuitry for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip, said processing circuitry operating responsive to a regulated voltage;
off-chip reactive components, wherein the off-chip reactive components further comprise:
an inductor connected to receive the off-chip voltage;
a capacitor connected to a regulated voltage output node;
an on-chip boost converter controller circuit connected only to the off-chip reactive components for generating the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off-chip voltage source, wherein the regulated voltage is greater than the off-chip voltage, wherein the on-chip boost converter controller circuit further comprises:
a zero volt turn-on rectifier connected between the inductor and the output voltage node, wherein the zero volt turn-on rectifier further includes a first transistor associated with a first mode of operation and a second transistor associated with a second mode of operation, the first and second transistors selected responsive to control signals provided by the processing circuitry;
a plurality of transistor switches connected in parallel between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground, wherein a first transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches is associated with the first mode of operation and a second transistor of the plurality of transistor switches is associated with the second mode of operation, the first and second transistor switches selected responsive to the control signals provided by the processing circuitry; and
switching control circuitry for controlling at least one transistor switch of the plurality of transistor switches responsive to the regulated voltage.
16. The integrated system of claim 15 , further including an output pin connected to the regulated voltage to selectively provide the regulated voltage to an external load.
17. The integrated system of claim 15 , wherein the first mode of operation provides a first power efficiency response and to operate in a second mode of operation providing a second power efficiency response.
18. The integrated system of claim 15 , wherein the control signals generated by the processing circuitry are generated responsive to a power efficiency of the processing circuitry.
19. The integrated system of claim 15 , further including a low drop out regulator for generating a second regulated voltage responsive to the regulated voltage provided by the on-chip boost converter circuit in a third mode of operation and for generating the second regulated voltage responsive to the off-chip voltage in a fourth mode of operation, wherein the second regulated voltage is less than the regulated voltage.
20. The integrated system of claim 17 , wherein the boost regulator may be disabled in the second mode of operation.
21. An integrated system on a chip, comprising:
processing circuitry for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip, said processing circuitry operating responsive to a regulated voltage; and
an on-chip boost converter circuit including at least one switch for generating the regulated voltage responsive to an off-chip voltage provided by an off-chip voltage source, wherein the regulated voltage is greater than the off-chip voltage, wherein the on-chip boost converter circuit further comprises:
a zero volt turn-on rectifier, wherein the zero volt turn-on rectifier further includes a first transistor associated with a first mode of operation and a second transistor associated with a second mode of operation, the first and second transistors selected responsive to control signals provided by the processing circuitry.
22. The integrated system of claim 21 , further including an output pin connected to the regulated voltage to selectively provide the regulated voltage to an external load.
23. The integrated system of claim 21 , further including an input pin connected to an external inductor and an output pin connected to an external capacitor to provide the regulated voltage.
24. The integrated system of claim 21 , wherein the on-chip boost converter circuit further comprises:
a transistor switch connected between an input of the zero volt turn-on rectifier and ground; and
switching control circuitry for controlling the transistor switch responsive to the regulated voltage.