Thin Power Circuit for Low-Power IC Wake-Up via Digital Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated circuits (ICs) face challenges in reducing power consumption during low power modes without increasing costs, as they often require additional analog interfaces for power management, which add complexity and expense, or rely on external circuits for power disconnection, leading to increased component and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An IC design featuring a thin power circuit that remains powered during low power mode, allowing it to monitor digital interfaces for wake-up signals and efficiently power up the core and I/O pads, using a dedicated power-on reset cell for low-power operation, thus enabling power management through existing digital interfaces without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If additional analog interfaces are added to receive power-up and power-down signals, then the IC can maintain low power consumption during sleep mode, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The digital interface is designed to serve multiple functions: it handles both data communication and power management signaling. The same digital pins and interface circuitry used for normal data exchange are also capable of receiving power-up and power-down commands, eliminating the need for separate dedicated analog control lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the power management control signals with the existing digital interface data lines. By merging these functions into a single interface, the design reduces the total number of pins and circuitry required, thereby lowering complexity and cost while maintaining low-power operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If external circuits are used to disconnect power from the IC during sleep mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the component count and PCB space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power management functionality is extracted from external discrete circuits and integrated directly into the IC itself. The IC contains internal circuitry that can autonomously control its own power state based on digital interface commands, removing the need for external power switch components.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC is designed to self-manage its power consumption by incorporating internal power control logic that responds to digital interface signals. The device can autonomously transition between active and low-power states without requiring external power management components, thereby reducing component count and simplifying the overall system.
3Use of energy by moving object
If digital interfaces are powered down during sleep mode, then power consumption decreases, but the IC cannot receive wake-up signals through the digital interface
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system is segmented into different functional blocks with different power states. The main digital interface logic is powered down during sleep mode to save power, while a separate low-power monitoring circuit remains active to detect wake-up signals on the digital interface lines.
Solution Approach 2:
A low-power monitoring circuit acts as an intermediary between the external digital interface and the main IC logic. This intermediary circuit consumes minimal power while continuously monitoring the digital interface for wake-up signals, and can trigger a full power-up sequence when a signal is detected.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include an IC that includes a core used for ordinary operation and a thin power circuit. The thin power circuit can be configured to use very little power. The IC can also include a digital interface and a connection thereto. The IC can initiate transition to low power mode during which the core and various I/O pads can be shut down. However, the thin power circuit can be kept powered up. The thin power circuit can monitor the digital interface for a predefined wake up signal. When the wake up signal is detected, the thin power circuit can power up the core and any powered down I/O pads. The thin power circuit can also include a dedicated power on reset (POR) cell. This POR cell can be distinct than other POR cells used for the IC and can be specifically designed to for efficient operation.