A TECHNIQUE FOR MANAGING POWER DOMAINS IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

摘要

Provided are an integrated circuit for managing a power domain and a method thereof. The integrated circuit of the present invention comprises a first circuit installed in a first power domain and a distributed power controller for controlling the transition of the first power domain between a plurality of power states. The distributed power controller includes a power control circuit in at least a second power domain and an additional power control circuit in a third power domain. While a current power state of the first power domain is at least one of the power states, the second power domain allows the power control circuit to be in a power saving state of unlearning the current power state of the first power domain. However, the third power domain is prevented from entering the power saving state. Moreover, the additional power control circuit outputs a mode state signal used by the power control circuit to allow the power control circuit to be in an initial operation mode depending on the current power state of the first power domain when the second power domain is out of the power saving state. Accordingly, an unintended result occurring when being out of the power saving state is guaranteed not to be generated even when the power control circuit unlearns the current power state of the first power domain while being in the power saving state.