UVFR: A Unified Voltage and Frequency Regulator with 500MHz/0.84V to 100KHz/0.27V operating range, 99.4% current efficiency and 27% supply guardband reduction

Abstract

A fully-digital, single-loop Unified Voltage and Frequency Regulator (UVFR) is designed in 130nm CMOS to provide the correct supply to digital loads to meet a timing criteria. Simultaneously a Tunable Replica Circuit (TRC) based local oscillator is generated from the regulated supply and clocks the load. Measurements show 0.84V to 0.27V range of operation, and 27% supply guardband reduction at iso-performance through adaptation and resiliency which are intrinsic to the control loop.