In this enlightening episode, we delve into a series of intriguing topics that shed light on the fascinating realm of power domains and power modes in VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration). Inspired by a question posed by Sandeep Vasireddy during the inaugural episode of the UPF (Unified Power Format) in VLSI Series, we embark on a comprehensive exploration of power modes. Through a meticulous analysis, we unravel the concept of power modes, including their definition and significance in VLSI design. We also delve into the realm of popular power modes, exploring various examples and their applications within the industry. Furthermore, we delve into the intricacies of power domains, examining their fundamental nature and the criticality of power-up and power-down sequencing in VLSI systems. By the end of this episode, viewers will have gained a solid understanding of power modes and power domains, enabling them to apply this knowledge effectively in their own VLSI designs.
Power management is a feature that resides in modern electronic circuits residing inside copiers, laptop, Smart Phones, CPUs, GPUs, monitor , printer, that turns off the power partially or as a whole when inactive. Sleep mode is a low power mode for electronic devices. These modes save significantly on electrical consumption compared to leaving a device fully on. Sleep mode also known by various names, including Stand By, Suspend and Suspend to RAM. Power mode names may vary from one IC/IP to another IC/IP. For any Specific IC , please consult the Data-Sheet to understand its power modes & its corresponding operations. To know the power-modes of any IP, you must contact the IP-Vendor for the respective Application Note on the available Power-Modes.
Popular Power Modes:
1. Idle Mode:
-Stopped: CPU, Flash memory
-Running: Comparator, ADC , Watchdog-Module
-Wakeup: External and internal interrupts
2. Power-Down Mode:
-Stopped: All major & minor powered blocks
-Running: External interrupts, Watchdog-Module
-Wakeup: Watchdog-Module, External Interrupt
3. Standby Mode:
-Running: External Crystal Clock Oscillator
-Wakeup: Watchdog-module, external interrupt , up time is higher than power-down mode
What is Power Domain ?
1. Power-Up & Power-Down Sequence :
The power up sequence is the sequence in which the power is tuned on for the entire chip. The power down sequence is the sequence in which the power is shut down of the entire chip. This includes specifications of the time intervals between several steps in the mentioned sequence(s). A power sequence is used when there are Semiconductor Devices with different power supply voltages (a.k.a Power Domains) mixed together on one board/chip. The time interval specifications differ depending on the device, which can cause problems when applying power to on-board devices with different power supplies. In a general power sequence, power to the main block is applied first, followed by the peripheral blocks. The reverse occurs for power shutdown.
Summary:
Power-Modes Manages the power supply of various Power-Domains. According to a Specific Power-Mode , the Power Management Block Distributes Power to the Various Power Domains. Power Mode - is a Specification of POWERING/DE-POWRING Operation. Power Domain - is a Circuit Block with Specific Power Need.
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