Abstract: A device for forming an optical connection between an optoelectronic device and an optical fiber and for forming an electrical connection between the optoelectronic device and a substrate, a system including the device and materials, and methods of forming the device and system are disclosed. The device for forming an optical connection includes a—light transmission medium and electrical connectors, which are at least partially encapsulated. In addition, the device includes guide grooves configured to receive guide pins from a fiber ribbon connector, such that when the fiber ribbon connector is attached to the device, fibers of the ribbon align with the optoelectronic device via the light transmission medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digitally controlled multi-phase voltage regulator system providing regulated power to electronic components that have variable power requirements. Power is supplied by one or more power integrated circuits (IC) each having a high side power switch controlled by pulse width modulated signals and a low side power switch. The power IC senses voltage at the load and has an on-chip current mirror for generating a current that is a ratio of current delivered to the load. The power IC also has current limiting and on-chip temperature sensing components. The voltage and current information is digitized and provided to a control integrated circuit (IC). The control IC receives this digitized information as well as user provided parameters and, in the regulation mode of operation, provides digitized pulse width modulated control signals to the power IC. In an active transient response mode of operation, the control IC provides signals to turn either the high side switches or low side switches ON.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for providing operating power and transient suppression power to a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a primary regulator to supply nominal operating power and to respond to relatively slow transient events and a transient suppression regulator to respond to fast transient power events. The system also includes a sense circuit to detect when a transient event occurs and to send a signal to the transient suppression regulator to supply or sink current to the load in response to a sensed transient power event.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power regulation system and method with high speed signal settling capabilities for providing rapid active transient response to a microelectronic device. An active transient response system includes a power supply configured to receive external and/or internal signals indicating the occurrence of transient load conditions and to respond to the transient load conditions based on one or more of these signals. The system may further include a transient suppressor configured for early detection of transients, assisting in transient suppression, and early signaling of transient activity to the power supply. The system provides rapid recovery to steady state operation from the active transient response mode by using a digital compensator to quickly modifying the duty cycle and provide a voltage offset proportional to the transient microprocessor load step. Recovery is further improved by current rephasing techniques.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for routing signals in a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of chip components, such as transient suppression regulators, that are configured to include a transmission path that is routed through the chip component for transmission of any signal, for example, a signal from a communication bus of the microelectronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed is current driver circuit comprising a bandgap reference circuit for generating a fixed current and a current proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT), a temperature compensator for combining the fixed and PTAT currents and forming first and second temperature compensated currents, a current control circuit for modifying said first and second temperature compensated currents in response to signals representing the characteristics of a load device and a driver circuit for amplifying and supplying a selected one of said first and second temperature compensated currents to said load device. Also disclosed is a method of supplying a precisely controlled current by generating a constant current and a current proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT), combining these two currents and providing temperature compensated currents, modifying the temperature compensated currents with a programmed reference signal and supplying a precisely controlled current to a load device.

Abstract: A transient suppression system is configured for providing power regulation to a microelectronic device. A pre-adjust stage is configured to pre-charge or pre-discharge a bypass capacitor as driven by a predictive transient event signal and in anticipation of a transient event.

Abstract: A device for transmitting clock signals to a microprocessor is disclosed. The device is configured to receive a clock signal and distribute the signal synchronically to multiple output sites on the device. The synchronized clock signals are transmitted from the various device sites to multiple sites on the microprocessor.

Abstract: A device for forming an optical connection between an optoelectronic device and an optical fiber, forming an electrical connection between the optoelectronic device and an integrated circuit, and a forming an electrical connection between the microelectronic device and a substrate, a system including the device, and a method of forming the device and system are disclosed. The device for forming an optical connection includes a light transmission medium and electrical connectors, which are at least partially encapsulated. In addition, the device includes guide grooves configured to receive guide pins from a fiber ribbon connector portion of a fiber ribbon cable assembly, such that when the fiber ribbon connector is attached to the device, the transmission medium provides an optical path between the optoelectronic device and the fiber.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for providing operating power and transient suppression power to a microelectronic device are disclosed. The system includes a primary regulator to supply nominal operating power and to respond to relatively slow transient events and a transient suppression regulator to respond to fast transient power events. The system also includes a sense circuit to detect when a transient event occurs and to send a signal to the transient suppression regulator to supply or sink current to the load in response to a sensed transient power event.

Abstract: Disclosed is a four stage transimpedance amplifier having a grounded base transistor preamplifier input stage, a common emitter voltage amplifier stage, and an amplifier stage having a common collector transistor, an output buffer stage, and a bias circuit coupled to the preamplifier stage to prevent the grounded base transistor from going into saturation.

Abstract: Currents flowing in the various channels within a voltage regulator module (VRM) are suitably converted to digital equivalents that can be processed to control each module in a modular power supply. Functions that may be digitally implemented include current balancing between channels, current sharing between various modules in a power supply, and/or the like. By monitoring the current provided on each channel within a module, for example, a controller can determine an average current for the channels, which in turn can be used to identify and compensate for over- or under-production in any particular channel. Active voltage positioning techniques and overload protection may also be implemented using digital techniques.

Abstract: A system is provided for supplying current to a dynamic load subject to transient current requirements. A sense unit coupled to the dynamic load is configured to sense the rate of change of supply current required by the dynamic load during a transient event. A current source coupled to the sense unit is configured to supply a current pulse to the dynamic load in response to the sense unit determining that the rate of change of supply current (di/dt) exceeds a predetermined threshold. The current pulse preferably has a shape characterized by a first region and a second region subsequent to the second region, wherein the first region includes a first boost current which exceeds the transient current requirement, and wherein the second region includes a second boost current which is less than the transient current requirement. More generally, a wideband transient suppression system is provided for controlling a wide spectrum of transients.

Abstract: A transient current generator for testing microelectronic power regulator systems is provided. The current generator includes a current source and one or more transistors to provide current or sink current to a microelectronic power delivery system. The generator may be used to test a microprocessor power delivery system by replacing the microprocessor with one or more of the generators of the present invention.

Abstract: A serial bus control method, apparatus, and system for transmitting signals between a master controller and a slave controller associated with a power regulator are disclosed. The serial bus control scheme allows for information to be written to or read from individual regulators or be written to read from all regulators that are coupled to the master controller.

Abstract: A system for coupling optoelectronic devices, associated electrical components, and optical fibers is described. The system includes a substrate to which optoelectronic devices and at least some of the associated electronic components are formed on or formed using the substrate material. The substrate is further configured to receive and attach to one or more optical fibers. The system can be used to form transceivers for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing electronic information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a valid signal includes an offset generator coupled to a pair of data slicers and an XOR gate. The offset generator is configured to both add and subtract a predetermined voltage to an input voltage in its two outputs. The two outputs of the offset generator are both compared to a predetermined value in a pair of data slicers. If the outputs of the data slicers are the same (i.e., either both offset signals are positive or both are negative), then a valid signal is indicated.

Abstract: A high speed ring voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) system is provided. The ring VCO system includes a plurality of interpolation stages coupled in a “look-ahead” configuration. Each interpolation stage receives two signal inputs and outputs a single differential voltage representative of a time delay interpolation between the two input signals. In accordance with the invention, each interpolation stage receives a first signal input from the immediately previous stage and a second signal input from the output of a different stage. In this manner, the delay stages in the ring VCO can generate a variable delay by interpolating between inputs with small relative delays without adding additional delay to the total loop delay.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for transmitting and receiving digital data. In order to counter the spatial filtering effects of a digital data bus, data is spatially filtered by a driver before being sent on the digital data bus to its destination. In the alternative, the data may be spatially filtered by a receiver after being sent on the digital data bus. The spatial filter may include one or more current-limiting elements, such as a resistor or a transistor, coupled between the power supply and the various buffers on the bus. Such a configuration results in a lowering of the crosstalk and ground bounce present between adjacent lines on a data bus.

Abstract: An improved phase lock loop destress circuit is described. The PLL circuit includes a loop destress logic circuit and a coarse tune digital-to-analog converter, which are coupled to a summer and driver, which in turn is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator. The loop destress logic circuit is configured to automatically select a digital word for use in coarse tuning the voltage controlled oscillator.