Programmable voltage regulator
View Patent ↗A circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a variable voltage generator that is coupled to receive an input voltage. Furthermore, the circuit can include a non-volatile memory that is coupled to the variable voltage generator. The non-volatile memory can be coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of the variable voltage generator.
1. A circuit comprising:
a variable voltage generator coupled to receive an input voltage, wherein the variable voltage generator comprises a follower circuit, and wherein the follower circuit comprises an amplifier coupled with a switching element;
a non-volatile memory coupled to said variable voltage generator, said nonvolatile memory coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of said variable voltage generator; and
a processing element coupled with the nonvolatile memory and the variable voltage generator.
2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the follower circuit is coupled to receive said input voltage.
3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said variable voltage generator is coupled to receive a reference voltage.
4. The circuit of claim 1 , where said programming sets an output voltage for said circuit.
5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said circuit is a programmable linear voltage regulator circuit.
6. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein said circuit further comprises a processor, that is not the processing element, coupled with the variable voltage generator.
7. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a programmable supervisor module coupled with said processor, wherein said nonvolatile memory is coupled with a programming interface to receive said programming and wherein said programming changes the value of a previously programmed output voltage for said variable voltage generator.
8. A circuit comprising:
a variable voltage generator coupled to receive a voltage supply, wherein the variable voltage generator comprises a follower circuit, and wherein the follower circuit comprises an amplifier coupled with a switching element;
a supervisor subsystem;
a processing element coupled to said variable voltage generator, said processing element coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of said variable voltage generator; and
a non-volatile memory coupled to said processing element, said non-volatile memory to store said programming.
9. The circuit of claim 8 , where said programming sets an output voltage for said circuit.
10. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said programming changes the value of a previously programmed output voltage for said variable voltage generator.
11. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said processing element can be used for generating a reset signal that is output by said circuit.
12. A circuit comprising:
a variable voltage generator coupled to receive a voltage supply, wherein the variable voltage generator comprises a follower circuit, and wherein the follower circuit comprises an amplifier coupled with a switching element;
a supervisor subsystem; and
a processing element coupled to said variable voltage generator, said processing element coupled to receive programming for controlling an output voltage of said variable voltage generator; and
wherein said variable voltage generator further comprises a first resistor ladder and a first multiplexer, wherein said supervisor subsystem comprises a second resistor ladder and a second multiplexer, and wherein said processing element can be used for disabling an output voltage of said circuit when said voltage supply crosses a threshold.
13. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein the follower circuit is coupled to receive said voltage supply.
14. The circuit of claim 8 , wherein said follower circuit comprises a transistor and an operational amplifier that are coupled together.
15. A method comprising:
receiving an input voltage;
receiving a reference voltage;
storing data with non-volatile memory; and
with a processing element coupled to said non-volatile memory and a variable voltage generator, utilizing said input voltage and said reference voltage to generate a regulated output voltage having a value set by said data stored by said non-volatile memory; and
regulating the regulated output voltage using a follower circuit, wherein the follower circuit comprises an amplifier coupled with a switching element.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said regulated output voltage is output by a programmable voltage regulator circuit.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said value is related to said reference voltage.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving said data via a programming interface.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving said data via a communication bus.