US2012064939A1PendingUtilityA1

Radio frequency (rf) integrated circuit (ic) having power island(s)

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Assignee: ROFOUGARAN AHMADREZA REZAPriority: Aug 1, 2007Filed: Nov 18, 2011Published: Mar 15, 2012
Est. expiryAug 1, 2027(~1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ahmadreza RofougaranMaryam RofougaranHooman DarabiVafa James RakshaniClaude G. Hayek
G06F 1/3237G06F 1/3287Y02D10/00G06F 1/3203G06F 1/324H04B 1/38
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Claims

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) operable to support wireless communications is provided. The RF IC includes a plurality of processing modules wherein each processing module is operable to support one or more functions of the RF IC, and a plurality of power islands. Each power island is associated with one or more functions of the RF IC. Each of the power islands, through the function association, is operable to supply power for the processing modules accordingly. Power consumption by the RF IC may be reduced or secured when the one or more functions associated with the power island is not required.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) operable to support wireless communications, comprising:
 a plurality of processing modules, wherein each processing module of the plurality of processing modules is operable to support one or more functions of the RF IC; and   a plurality of power islands, wherein:
 a power island of the plurality of power islands is associated with the one or more functions of the RF IC; and 
 the power island of the plurality of power islands being operable to power a processing module of the plurality of processing modules based on activation of the one or more functions of the RF IC such that power consumption is reduced when one of the one or more functions associated with the power island is not required. 
   
     
     
         2 . The RF IC of  claim 1 , wherein the power island of the plurality of power islands is disabled when the one or more functions is not required. 
     
     
         3 . The RF IC of  claim 1 , wherein the power island of the plurality of power islands is placed in a sleep mode when the one or more functions is not required. 
     
     
         4 . The RF IC of  claim 1 , wherein the power island of the plurality of power islands is operable to reduce a supply voltage when the one or more functions are not required. 
     
     
         5 . The RF IC of  claim 1  further comprises:
 an advanced high-performance (AHB) bus matrix coupled to the plurality of processing modules. 
 
     
     
         6 . The RF IC of  claim 5  further comprises a microprocessor core coupled to the AHB bus matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The RF IC of  claim 5  further comprises a video codec coupled to the AHB bus matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The RF IC of  claim 1  wherein each power island of the plurality of power islands includes an adjustable clock circuit operable to reduce the power consumption of the RF IC. 
     
     
         9 . The RF IC of  claim 1  wherein each power island of the plurality of power islands includes a gateable clock circuit operable to reduce the power consumption of the RF IC. 
     
     
         10 . A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) operable to support wireless communications, comprising:
 an advanced high-performance (AHB) bus matrix;   a microprocessor core coupled to the AHB bus matrix;   a plurality of processing modules wherein each processing module is operable to support one or more functions of the RF IC; and   a plurality of power islands, wherein:
 a power island of the plurality of power islands is associated with one or more functions; and 
 the power island of the plurality of power islands is operable to power a processing module of the plurality of processing module based on activation of the one or more functions of the RF IC such that power consumption is reduced when one of the one or more functions associated with the power island is not required; 
   a data input interface coupled to the AHB bus matrix, wherein the data input interface receives outbound data; and   a display interface coupled to the AHB bus matrix, wherein the display interface provides inbound data to an off-IC display.   
     
     
         11 . The RF IC of  claim 10  further comprises an arbitration module coupled to the AHB bus matrix and to a plurality of interface modules, wherein the arbitration module arbitrates access to the AHB bus matrix among the plurality of interface modules. 
     
     
         12 . The RF IC of  claim 11  further comprises a graphics engine coupled to the arbitration module, wherein the arbitration module arbitrates access to the AHB bus matrix among the plurality of interface modules and the graphics engine. 
     
     
         13 . The RF IC of  claim 10  further comprises a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) coupled to the AHB bus matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The RF IC of  claim 13  further comprises a demultiplexer coupled to the AHB bus matrix and the plurality of processing modules, wherein the demultiplexer couples one of the plurality of processing modules to the AHB bus matrix based on a control signal. 
     
     
         15 . A radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC) operable to support wireless communications, comprising:
 a plurality of processing modules, wherein each processing module of the plurality of processing modules is operable to support one or more functions of the RF IC; and   a plurality of power islands, wherein each power island of the plurality of power islands is associated with the one or more functions of the RF IC, and the each power island of the plurality of power islands is operable to provide power to a processing module of the plurality of processing modules based on activation of the one or more functions of the RF IC such that power consumption is reduced when one of the one or more functions associated with the each power island is not required.   
     
     
         16 . The RF IC of  claim 15 , wherein the each power island of the plurality of power islands is disabled when the one or more functions is not required. 
     
     
         17 . The RF IC of  claim 15 , wherein the each power island of the plurality of power islands is placed in a sleep mode when the one or more functions is not required. 
     
     
         18 . The RF IC of  claim 15 , wherein the each power island of the plurality of power islands is operable to reduce a supply voltage when the one or more functions are not required. 
     
     
         19 . The RF IC of  claim 15  wherein the each power island of the plurality of power islands includes adjustable clock circuits operable to reduce the power consumption of the RF IC. 
     
     
         20 . The RF IC of  claim 15  wherein the each power island of the plurality of power islands includes gateable clock circuits operable to reduce the power consumption of the RF IC.

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