Hierarchical power distribution and power management scheme for a single chip mobile processor

A hierarchical power distribution methodology that enables more than dozen power domains in a chip and a power management scheme using 20 power domains are described. This method can achieve very low leakage current in the partial active mode of a single chip mobile processor. The single chip mobile processor embedded three CPU\´s that is baseband processor, application processor, and multimedia processor. In the "waiting for calling" mode of the mobile handsets, application processor and multimedia processor part can be power-off. This chip can power off these power domains although the some of baseband parts are actively operating. Many new techniques for multiple power domains in the chip are described