TABLE OF CONTENTS The challenging energy demands of new portable devices are forcing radical approaches to solve complex power management problems. It means expanding the definition of power management beyond power delivery, to include power distribution and power consumption. It means interfacing the power-delivery system to the power consumption system, to permit the system to communicate with each other to vastly improve power conservation.
To achieve these quantum leaps manufacturers need a new industry model. Historically power management and processor integrated circuit (IC) suppliers have developed their technologies independently. However, power efficiencies are now reaching levels where only minimal gains can be achieved through this conventional-isolated approach. No longer are piecemeal short-term solutions addressing the power efficiency of individual components. Rather the entire system has to be considered as a whole and the opportunities for system components to work together have to be leveraged to obtain power performance level required by next generation devices.
Effective power management requires more than simply turning devices on or off. A flexible power architecture is needed. For example, many processors and peripherals support multiple power modes such as Standby and Sleep to power down unused functions except when they are in active use. Multiple power zones are required to support the various supply requirements and specialized operational modes to extend battery life for portable products. Each zone is supplied by an independent linear or switching regulator, giving developers a high degree of control over power.
Further optimization can be achieved through techniques such as coordinated...
