Abstract: A method for operating an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving a token, activating a power switch for powering up a core in response to the receiving the token, and outputting the token based on a state of powering up the core. The outputting of the received token is delayed until the state of powering up the core is reached. In one aspect, an electronic apparatus includes a power switch configured to power up to a core is provided. A power-switch control circuit is configured to receive a token, activate the power switch for powering up the core in response to receiving the token, output the received token based on a state of powering up the core. The outputting of the received token is delayed until the state of powering up the core is reached. A plurality of the power-switch control circuits is configured as a ring.

Abstract: A method for operating an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving a token, activating a power switch for powering up a core in response to the receiving the token, and outputting the token based on a state of powering up the core. The outputting of the received token is delayed until the state of powering up the core is reached. In one aspect, an electronic apparatus includes a power switch configured to power up to a core is provided. A power-switch control circuit is configured to receive a token, activate the power switch for powering up the core in response to receiving the token, output the received token based on a state of powering up the core. The outputting of the received token is delayed until the state of powering up the core is reached. A plurality of the power-switch control circuits is configured as a ring.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes multiple power domains. Supply current switch circuits (SCSCs) are distributed across each power domain. When a signal is present on a control node within a SCSC, the SCSC couples a local supply bus of the power domain to a global supply bus. An enable signal path extends through the SCSCs so that an enable signal can be propagated down a chain of SCSCs from control node to control node, thereby turning the SCSCs on one by one. When the domain is to be powered up, a control circuit asserts an enable signal that propagates down a first chain of SCSCs. After a programmable amount of time, the control circuit asserts a second enable signal that propagates down a second chain. By spreading the turning on of SCSCs over time, large currents that would otherwise be associated with coupling the local and global buses together are avoided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes multiple power domains. Supply current switch circuits (SCSCs) are distributed across each power domain. When a signal is present on a control node within a SCSC, the SCSC couples a local supply bus of the power domain to a global supply bus. An enable signal path extends through the SCSCs so that an enable signal can be propagated down a chain of SCSCs from control node to control node, thereby turning the SCSCs on one by one. When the domain is to be powered up, a control circuit asserts an enable signal that propagates down a first chain of SCSCs. After a programmable amount of time, the control circuit asserts a second enable signal that propagates down a second chain. By spreading the turning on of SCSCs over time, large currents that would otherwise be associated with coupling the local and global buses together are avoided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for voltage regulation uses, in one aspect, worst-case supply voltages specific to the process split of the integrated device at issue. In another aspect, a two-phase voltage regulation system and method identifies the characterization data pertinent to a family of integrated circuit devices in a first phase, and identifies an associated process split of a candidate integrated circuit device in a second phase. The characterization data from the first phase is then used to provide supply voltages that correspond to target frequencies of operation for the candidate device. In another aspect, a hybrid voltage regulator circuit includes an open loop circuit which automatically identifies the process split of the integrated circuit device and allows a regulator to modify supply voltage based on characterization data specific to that process split, and a closed loop circuit which fine-tunes the supply voltage.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to circuitry for implementation of headswitches and footswitches in an ASIC for power management. The disclosed circuitry supports not only effective power management, but also efficient use of ASIC area, reduced complexity, and the use of electronic design automation (EDA) tools. In this manner, the disclosed circuitry can support enhanced performance and simplified ASIC design. In some cases, headswitch or footswitch circuitry may be implemented as a switch pad ring that extends around a hard macro forming part of an ASIC core. In other cases, headswitch or footswitch circuitry can be distributed within an ASIC core by embedding distributed headswitch or footswitch components under metal layer power routing coupled to standard cell rows.