Silicon Laboratories Inc.
POWER-SAVING POWER ARCHITECTURE FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS SUCH AS MICROCONTROLLERS

Abstract:

An integrated circuit includes a first plurality of circuits receiving a first internal power supply voltage, a first regulator receiving an external power supply voltage and supplying the first internal power supply voltage at a first rated power in response to the external power supply voltage when the integrated circuit is in an active mode, a second regulator receiving the external power supply voltage for supplying the first internal power supply voltage at a second rated power less than said first rated power in response to the external power supply voltage when the integrated circuit is in a low power mode, and a controller controlling a transition of the integrated circuit between the active mode and the low power mode. The controller activates all of the first plurality of circuits in the active mode, but only a subset of them while keeping remaining ones inactive in the low power mode.