Power Multiplexer Tiles for Seamless Voltage Rail Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power management in electronic devices faces challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining performance, particularly during voltage level transitions, where dynamic voltage scaling can impact performance and data integrity, and power multiplexing introduces issues like cross-conduction, non-conduction, and current in-rush, making it difficult to efficiently switch between power rails without disrupting circuit operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an integrated circuit with multiple power-multiplexer tiles and control circuitry that switches a circuit load between power rails using a power-rail switching signal, employing diode-connected transistors to manage current flow and prevent short-circuit conditions, allowing for seamless transitions while maintaining continuous power delivery and clock signal distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic voltage scaling is implemented to reduce power consumption, then energy usage is reduced, but performance level and data integrity deteriorate during voltage transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The power-rail switching operation is divided into multiple sequential phases: decoupling the load from the first power rail, coupling to the second power rail, and managing transitions through controlled current flow. This segmentation allows voltage transitions to occur without disrupting load operation, maintaining data integrity while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The load is decoupled from the first power rail before the second power rail voltage reaches its target level. This preliminary action prevents current in-rush and allows the second power rail to stabilize, ensuring reliable power delivery before the load is reconnected, thus maintaining data integrity during transitions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power multiplexing is used to switch between power rails, then power consumption is reduced, but cross-conduction and current in-rush occur during switching
Solution Approach 1:
Diode-connected transistors are introduced as intermediary elements between the power rails and the load. These transistors control current flow direction, preventing cross-conduction between power rails during switching operations. The diode connection ensures current flows only in the intended direction, eliminating harmful cross-conduction while enabling power multiplexing for reduced power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If voltage level transitions are performed, then power consumption is reduced, but performance level and processing throughput are impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The load remains continuously coupled to a power rail throughout the voltage transition process. By decoupling from one power rail before connecting to another, and by managing the transition phases to maintain continuous power delivery, the load operation is never interrupted. This continuity ensures processing throughput is maintained while still enabling power consumption reduction through voltage scaling.
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated circuit is disclosed for power multiplexing with an active load. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, a load power rail, multiple power-multiplexer tiles, and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The first power rail is at a first voltage, and the second power rail is at a second voltage. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation responsive to a power-rail switching signal. Each power multiplexer tile switches between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is coupled to the first and second power rails and includes a comparator to produce a relative voltage signal based on the first and second voltages. The power-multiplexer control circuitry generates the power-rail switching signal based on the relative voltage signal.