Power sequencing in a data processing system

Details Power sequencing in a data processing system Power sequencing in a data processing system

1998-09-30

2001-05-22

Beausoleil, Robert (Department: 2181)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support

Computer power control

Power sequencing

C713S300000, C713S310000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237103

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to electronic systems and, in particular, to power management in electronic systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to power sequencing in an electronic system such as a data processing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many electronic systems such as computer systems, the integrated circuit components of the system are mounted on circuit cards. Such circuit cards typically have multiple layers, including one or more interconnect layers that interconnect pins of the various integrated circuits and one or more power and ground planes that supply operating voltages to the integrated circuits. Multiple power planes are often included within a circuit card in order to provide multiple different supply voltages, for example, 1.8 V, 3.3 V, and 5 V, that satisfy the power requirements of the integrated circuits mounted on the circuit card.
In order to power up the integrated circuit components mounted on a multiple-power-plane circuit card in a coherent manner, it is commonly required to sequence the supply of power to the power planes in a particular order. The order in which power is applied to the power planes, which is typically controlled by a power control circuit mounted on the circuit card, may vary between circuit cards, depending on the integrated circuit technologies represented on each circuit card.
A problem arises in that it may be desirable after a circuit card has been installed in an electronic system to modify the default power supply sequencing hardwired into the circuit card's power control circuit. For example, if the circuit card includes a socket for a processor chip, it may be necessary to alter the power sequencing of the circuit card in order to support an upgrade of the processor to one fabricated utilizing a new, faster integrated circuit technology.
As should thus be apparent, it would be useful and desirable to provide a method and system for power sequencing in an electronic system that permit the default power sequencing of a circuit card to be easily modified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a data processing system includes a power control circuit, a processor, a power supply, and a plurality of other components. Upon system reset, the power control circuit can generate at least one sequencing signal indicating a first sequence in which power is to be supplied to the plurality of components. Similarly, power sequencing code executed by the processor upon system reset can selectively generate at least one sequencing signal indicating a second sequence in which power is to be supplied to the plurality of components. The power supply, which can receive both the sequencing signal generated by the power control circuit and the sequencing signal generated by the power sequencing code, supplies power to the plurality of components in the second sequence if the power supply receives the sequencing signal generated by the power sequencing code. In one embodiment, the plurality of components require a plurality of different power supply voltages.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.


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patent: 5958056 (1999-09-01), Lehmann

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