Controller and semiconductor system

Abstract

A controller is formed as one chip, and controls a voltage regulator that supplies a power supply voltage to a CPU. The controller includes: an input unit for receiving a monitor voltage for monitoring the power supply voltage applied to the CPU; a control unit for detecting that the power supply voltage is decreased to a target voltage by the monitor voltage with the voltage regulator being in OFF state in a discharge mode; and an output unit for outputting a result signal indicating to make transition to a normal mode, when the power supply voltage has reached the target voltage. The control unit includes a calculation circuit, which is operated in accordance with a program. The calculation circuit is provided between the input unit and the output unit.

1 . A controller for controlling a voltage regulator that supplies a power supply voltage to a first semiconductor device, comprising:
 an input unit for receiving a signal indicating state information of said voltage regulator;   a control unit for updating data of the state information indicated by said signal received; and   an interface unit for outputting the data of said state information to said first semiconductor device in response to a request from said first semiconductor device,   said control unit including a calculation circuit, which is provided between said input unit and said interface unit and is operated in accordance with a program.   
     
     
         2 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 there are a plurality of types of said state information, and   said calculation circuit processes each state information in a time-division manner.   
     
     
         3 . The controller according to  claim 2 , wherein said state information is concerned with a voltage, a current, a temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said voltage regulator has a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor, and   the controller has a normal mode in which said power supply voltage is maintained at a normal instruction voltage, which is a constant voltage, by controlling ON state and OFF state of said high-side transistor and said low-side transistor.   
     
     
         5 . The controller according to  claim 4 , wherein in said normal mode, an operation is performed using a logical circuit rather than said calculation circuit. 
     
     
         6 . A controller for controlling a voltage regulator that supplies a power supply voltage to a first semiconductor device, comprising:
 a first interface for receiving a first instruction signal from outside;   a second interface for receiving a second instruction signal from outside; and   a control unit for controlling a voltage, which is applied to said first semiconductor device, in accordance with said first instruction signal using a calculation circuit, which is operated in accordance with a program, such that said voltage applied to said first semiconductor device reaches an instruction voltage, and for controlling the voltage, which is applied to said first semiconductor device, in accordance with said second instruction signal using a logical circuit different from said calculation circuit such that the voltage applied to said first semiconductor device reaches said instruction voltage,   it taking a shorter time that said voltage applied to said first semiconductor device reaches said instruction voltage in accordance with said second instruction signal than a time taken that said voltage applied to said first semiconductor device reaches said instruction voltage in accordance with said first instruction signal.