Patent ID: 7170811

Claim:
A variable power supply for on-chip memory on an integrated circuit powered by a voltage source, the integrated circuit including at least one array, the variable power supply comprising: a. an on-chip logic circuit that receives power from an off-chip variable power supply and that generates a voltage identification signal that provides control information regarding a desired current state of the off-chip variable power supply; b. a voltage identification bus that receives the voltage identification signal from the on-chip logic circuit; and c. an on-chip variable voltage regulator, that receives power from the voltage source, the on-chip voltage regulator controlled by an on-chip voltage regulator control logic circuit that is in communication with the voltage identification bus and that is responsive to the voltage identification signal, the on-chip voltage regulator control logic circuit causing the on-chip variable voltage regulator to supply an array voltage to the array that tracks the current state of the off-chip variable power supply.