On-Chip LDO Header Switch Control for Stable SoC Power Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of application processors in mobile devices leads to a higher number of power supply voltages and power routings, which complicates power management and increases production costs due to the need for more off-chip load capacitors and inductors, hindering dynamic voltage scaling and making the inclusion of LDO regulators in SoCs costly.
Innovation Solution
A system-on-chip with a low-dropout (LDO) regulator that reduces power routings between the core and PMIC, and off-chip devices by using a header switch circuit to transmit power supply voltage and a logic circuit to regulate current based on supply voltage changes, controlling the on/off states of header switches to stabilize the supply voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of power supply voltages and power routings is increased to support higher performance application processors, then the performance capability is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase due to more off-chip load capacitors and inductors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the LDO regulator directly into the application processor chip, merging previously separate power management functions into a unified device. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple discrete off-chip power components and reduces the number of external power routings while maintaining the capability to support multiple power supply voltages for different performance domains
2Power
If more off-chip load capacitors and inductors are used to support increased power management requirements, then the power supply capability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the LDO regulator on-chip, the patent eliminates the need for multiple off-chip power components (capacitors and inductors), reducing bill of materials costs and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining adequate power supply capability through the integrated regulator
3Reliability
If the LDO regulator is included in an expensive SoC process to protect against power domain merging issues, then the reliability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the LDO regulator into the same SoC manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate regulator components and their associated assembly steps. This integration maintains power domain protection reliability while reducing production costs by simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A system-on-chip (100) according to an embodiment includes a core (120) including a header switch circuit (121) configured to transmit a power supply voltage (VDD) applied to a first power rail (PR1) as a supply voltage (SV) to a second power rail (PR2) and a logic circuit configured to operate based on the supply voltage (SV) from the second power rail (PR2), and a low-dropout (LDO) regulator (110) configured to regulate a magnitude of first current (1_1) output to the second power rail (PR2) based on a change in the supply voltage (SV), wherein the LDO regulator (110) is further configured to control on/off of a plurality of first header switches (121_1, ..., 121_n) included in the header switch circuit (121) based on an amount of the change in the supply voltage (SV).