Patent ID: 8004922
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A power island for a system-on-a-chip (SoC), the power island comprising: a first segment comprising a hardware device, the first segment to operate the hardware device at first power characteristics indicative of at least a first voltage; a second segment comprising scalable logic, the second segment to operate the scalable logic at second power characteristics indicative of at least a second voltage, wherein the second power characteristics of the scalable logic are different from the first power characteristics of the hardware device; a supply line to receive an external supply signal (VDD) and to direct the external supply signal to both the first segment and the second segment, wherein the second segment is configured to change at least one power characteristic of the external supply signal to operate the scalable logic according to the second power characteristics; a supply power converter coupled between the supply line and the scalable logic, wherein the supply power converter is configured to convert a supply voltage of the external supply signal from the first power characteristics to the second power characteristics; and a conversion controller coupled to the supply power converter, wherein the conversion controller is configured to control the supply power converter to change the external supply signal according to the second power characteristics of the scalable logic.