Patent ID: 8484497
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit comprising: a first power supply conductor configured to connect to an electrical power source; a second power supply conductor; a plurality of transistors configured to provide a current path from said first power supply conductor to said second power supply conductor; logic circuitry coupled to said second power supply conductor and configured to draw electrical power from said second power supply conductor; and controller circuitry coupled to said plurality of transistors and configured to control said plurality of transistors to switch from a high impedance state to a low impedance state of varying degree and thereby supply electrical power from said electrical power source to said logic circuitry via said first power supply conductor, said plurality of transistors and said second power supply conductor; wherein said plurality of transistors are divided in to a plurality of sets of transistors, each set being switched together from said high impedance state to said low impedance state under control of said controller circuitry; said controller circuitry is configured to switch said sets from said high impedance state to said low impedance state in a predetermined sequence; and said controller circuitry senses a voltage of said second power supply conductor and controls switching of said sets from said high impedance state to said low impedance state following said predetermined sequence in dependence upon said voltage, wherein each of said sets has an associated trigger value of said voltage and said controller circuitry switches a set from said high impedance state to said low impedance state when said voltage reaches said associated trigger value, and said associated trigger values of said sets monotonically increase between sets following said predetermined sequence.