A power planning phase module, a placement phase module, and a routing phase module are provided that can replace, supplement, or enhance existing electronic design automation (EDA) software tools. The power planning phase module adds distributed power sources and a network of switching elements to the power frame or ring assigned to regions of a chip (that may be identified during a floor planning stage). The placement phase module optimizes a number and type of cells attached to each power source of the distributed power sources already added or to be added during the power planning phase. The routing phase module optimizes routing length to, for example, mask power consumption.

A power planning phase module, a placement phase module, and a routing phase module are provided that can replace, supplement, or enhance existing electronic design automation (EDA) software tools. The power planning phase module adds distributed power sources and a network of switching elements to the power frame or ring assigned to regions of a chip (that may be identified during a floor planning stage). The placement phase module optimizes a number and type of cells attached to each power source of the distributed power sources already added or to be added during the power planning phase. The routing phase module optimizes routing length to, for example, mask power consumption.

A constant voltage circuit includes a depletion transistor having a drain, a gate, and a source, the drain connected to a first power supply terminal, and the gate connected to the source, a voltage division circuit connected between the first power supply terminal and an output terminal, a first enhancement transistor having a drain connected to the source of the depletion transistor, a source connected to the output terminal, and a gate connected to an output terminal of the voltage division circuit, a second enhancement transistor having a source connected to the first power supply terminal, a drain connected to the output terminal, and a gate connected to the drain of the first enhancement transistor, and a pull-down element having one end connected to the output terminal and the other end connected to a second power supply terminal.

A constant voltage circuit includes a depletion transistor having a drain, a gate, and a source, the drain connected to a first power supply terminal, and the gate connected to the source, a voltage division circuit connected between the first power supply terminal and an output terminal, a first enhancement transistor having a drain connected to the source of the depletion transistor, a source connected to the output terminal, and a gate connected to an output terminal of the voltage division circuit, a second enhancement transistor having a source connected to the first power supply terminal, a drain connected to the output terminal, and a gate connected to the drain of the first enhancement transistor, and a pull-down element having one end connected to the output terminal and the other end connected to a second power supply terminal.

A linear power supply circuit includes: an output stage including a first output transistor and a second output transistor, which are provided between an input terminal to which an input voltage is able to be applied and an output terminal to which an output voltage is able to be applied and are connected in parallel to each other; a driver configured to drive the first output transistor and the second output transistor based on a difference between a voltage based on the output voltage and a reference voltage; a resistor inserted between a gate of the first output transistor and a gate of the second output transistor; a capacitor having one end connected to the input terminal and the other end connected to a connection node between the resistor and the gate of the second output transistor; and a clamp element connected in parallel to the resistor.

A linear power supply circuit includes: an output stage including a first output transistor and a second output transistor, which are provided between an input terminal to which an input voltage is able to be applied and an output terminal to which an output voltage is able to be applied and are connected in parallel to each other; a driver configured to drive the first output transistor and the second output transistor based on a difference between a voltage based on the output voltage and a reference voltage; a resistor inserted between a gate of the first output transistor and a gate of the second output transistor; a capacitor having one end connected to the input terminal and the other end connected to a connection node between the resistor and the gate of the second output transistor; and a clamp element connected in parallel to the resistor.

A device is disclosed. The device includes an operational amplifier, an output circuit and a first feedback circuit. The operational amplifier includes an input terminal that is configured to receive a feedback signal. The output circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and is configured to generate an output signal in response to an output of the operational amplifier. The first feedback circuit is coupled to the output circuit and is configured to couple at least one first ripple signal in the output signal to the input terminal of the operational amplifier that is configured to receive the feedback signal, for adjusting the output signal. A method also is disclosed herein.

A device is disclosed. The device includes an operational amplifier, an output circuit and a first feedback circuit. The operational amplifier includes an input terminal that is configured to receive a feedback signal. The output circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and is configured to generate an output signal in response to an output of the operational amplifier. The first feedback circuit is coupled to the output circuit and is configured to couple at least one first ripple signal in the output signal to the input terminal of the operational amplifier that is configured to receive the feedback signal, for adjusting the output signal. A method also is disclosed herein.

A DLDO has a configuration that mitigates performance degradation associated with limit cycle oscillation (LCO). The DLDO comprises a clocked comparator, an array of power transistors, a digital controller and a clock pulsewidth reduction circuit. The digital controller comprises control logic configured to generate control signals that cause the power transistors to be turned ON or OFF in accordance with a preselected activation/deactivation control scheme. The clock pulsewidth reduction circuit receives an input clock signal having a first pulsewidth and generates the DLDO clock signal having the preselected pulsewidth that is narrower that the first pulsewidth, which is then delivered to the clock terminals of the clocked comparator and the digital controller. The narrower pulsewidth of the DLDO clock reduces the LCO mode to mitigate performance degradation caused by LCO.

A DLDO has a configuration that mitigates performance degradation associated with limit cycle oscillation (LCO). The DLDO comprises a clocked comparator, an array of power transistors, a digital controller and a clock pulsewidth reduction circuit. The digital controller comprises control logic configured to generate control signals that cause the power transistors to be turned ON or OFF in accordance with a preselected activation/deactivation control scheme. The clock pulsewidth reduction circuit receives an input clock signal having a first pulsewidth and generates the DLDO clock signal having the preselected pulsewidth that is narrower that the first pulsewidth, which is then delivered to the clock terminals of the clocked comparator and the digital controller. The narrower pulsewidth of the DLDO clock reduces the LCO mode to mitigate performance degradation caused by LCO.