US6574577B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit to indicate the status of a supply voltage
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 2000-12-13
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2020-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A system includes a processor, a voltage regulator and a circuit. The processor uses a first supply voltage to furnish a first indication of a second supply voltage to be received by the processor. The voltage regulator furnishes the second supply voltage in response to both the first indication and a second indication that the first supply voltage is valid. The circuit provides the second indication and regulates a timing of the second indication to prevent the voltage regulator from furnishing the second supply voltage until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Stapleton
- 👤 Bernard W. Boland
- 👤 Jeffery J. Olsen
- 👤 John A. Dickerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A system comprising: a processor to use a first supply voltage to furnish a first indication of a second supply voltage to be received by the processor; a voltage regulator to furnish the second supply voltage in response to both the first indication and a second indication that the first supply voltage is valid; and a circuit to provide the second indication and regulate a timing of the second indication to prevent the voltage regulator from furnishing the second supply voltage until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A system comprising: a processor to use a first supply voltage to furnish a first indication of a second supply voltage to be received by the processor; a voltage regulator to furnish the second supply voltage in response to both the first indication and a second indication that the first supply voltage is valid; and a circuit to provide the second indication and regulate a timing of the second indication to prevent the voltage regulator from furnishing the second supply voltage until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit prevents the voltage regulator from furnishing the second supply voltage until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the second indication comprises a state of a power good signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the circuit comprises a level shifter to translate a level of the first supply voltage to generate at least one state of the power good signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises: a comparator to compare the first supply voltage to a threshold level to detect when the first supply voltage is valid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises: a resistor; and a capacitor coupled to the resistor to introduce the predefined interval of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the first indication represents a voltage identification number.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a first circuit to indicate whether a supply voltage is valid; and a second circuit to receive the indication from the first circuit, measure a delay interval from the time when the first circuit indicates the supply voltage is valid and provide a status signal that indicates the supply voltage is valid in response to the expiration of the delay interval.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a first circuit to indicate whether a supply voltage is valid; and a second circuit to receive the indication from the first circuit, measure a delay interval from the time when the first circuit indicates the supply voltage is valid and provide a status signal that indicates the supply voltage is valid in response to the expiration of the delay interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first circuit comprises: a comparator to compare the supply voltage to a predefined threshold to determine whether the supply voltage is valid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the signal comprises a power good signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second circuit comprises: a level shifter to translate a level of the first supply voltage to produce the signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the circuit comprises: a resistor; and a capacitor coupled to the resistor to introduce the delay interval.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: in response to receiving a first supply voltage, providing an indication of a second supply voltage to be received by a processor; furnishing the second supply voltage in response to the indication; and preventing the furnishing until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: in response to receiving a first supply voltage, providing an indication of a second supply voltage to be received by a processor; furnishing the second supply voltage in response to the indication; and preventing the furnishing until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: comparing the first supply voltage to a predefined threshold to determine if the first supply voltage is valid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the preventing comprises: providing a time-delayed power good signal based on whether the first supply voltage is valid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the preventing further comprises: level shifting the first supply voltage to generate the power good signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the indication comprises a processor voltage identification number.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
59 words
A method comprising: detecting whether a supply voltage is valid; measuring a delay interval in response to the supply voltage becoming valid; generating a signal to indicate that the supply voltage is valid in response to the expiration of the delay interval; and generating another supply voltage in response to the indication that the first supply voltage is valid.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
59 words
A method comprising: detecting whether a supply voltage is valid; measuring a delay interval in response to the supply voltage becoming valid; generating a signal to indicate that the supply voltage is valid in response to the expiration of the delay interval; and generating another supply voltage in response to the indication that the first supply voltage is valid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: comparing the supply voltage to a predefined threshold to determine if the supply voltage is valid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal comprises a power good signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the generating comprises: level shifting the supply voltage to generate the signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: introducing the delay interval to prevent a voltage regulator from prematurely responding to a processor voltage identification signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |