Apparatus for multiple-input power architecture for electronic circuitry and associated methods
An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a power controller, which includes a regulator and a controller. The regulator receives a plurality of input voltages and provides a regulated output voltage. The controller controls the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages. The power controller provides power to a load integrated in the IC from a set of arbitrary input voltages. The set of arbitrary input voltages includes the plurality of input voltages.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
a power controller comprising:
a regulator comprising a plurality of voltage regulators coupled to receive a plurality of input voltages and to provide a regulated output voltage; and
a controller to control the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages;
wherein the power controller provides power to a load integrated in the IC from a set of arbitrary input voltages, the set of arbitrary input voltages comprising the plurality of input voltages.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the load integrated in the IC comprises a core circuit of the IC.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the set of arbitrary input voltages further includes a voltage received from a source external to the IC.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the voltage received from the source external to the IC selectively provides power to the core circuit under control of the power controller.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power controller comprises circuitry in a plurality of power domains.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the power controller further comprises a plurality of level shifters to facilitate communication among circuitry in the plurality of power domains.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the power controller further comprises a plurality of power on circuits to sequence provision of power to circuitry in the plurality of power domains.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one voltage regulator in the plurality of voltage regulators comprises a cascode configuration including first and second transistors, and wherein the IC further comprises a bias circuit to provide a bias signal to the second transistor.
9. An apparatus, comprising:
a microcontroller unit (MCU), comprising:
a power controller comprising:
a regulator comprising a plurality of voltage regulators to receive a plurality of input voltages and to provide a regulated output voltage; and
a controller to control the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages;
wherein the power controller sequences provision of power to circuitry in the MCU to power up a core circuit of the MCU.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the power controller sequences provision of power to circuitry in the MCU from a set of arbitrary input voltages.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the set of arbitrary input voltages comprises plurality of input voltages and a voltage received from a source external to the MCU.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the voltage received from the source external to the IC selectively provides power to the core circuit under control of the power controller.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein once the core circuit is powered up, the core circuit provides control signals to the controller.
14. A method of providing power to circuitry in an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of input voltages in a regulator;
controlling the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages by controlling a plurality of voltage regulators included in the regulator to receive the plurality of input voltages and provide the regulated output voltage; and
providing power to a load integrated in the IC from a set of arbitrary input voltages, the set of arbitrary input voltages comprising the plurality of input voltages.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein providing power to the load integrated in the IC further comprises providing power to a core circuit of the IC.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the set of arbitrary input voltages further includes a voltage received from a source external to the IC.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising selectively providing power to the core circuit from the voltage received from the source external to the IC.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein circuitry in the IC comprises circuitry in a plurality of power domains, and wherein the load is included in a power domain in the plurality of power domains.
19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein controlling the regulator to generate the regulated output voltage from the plurality of input voltages further comprises using a plurality of level shifters to facilitate communication among circuitry in a plurality of power domains.