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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968" /><title>Chapter 1. Introduction</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.75.2" /><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="Voltage and current regulator API" /><link rel="up" href="index.html" title="Voltage and current regulator API" /><link rel="prev" href="index.html" title="Voltage and current regulator API" /><link rel="next" href="ch02.html" title="Chapter 2. Consumer driver interface" /></head><body><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Chapter 1. Introduction</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="index.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center"> </th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch02.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr /></div><div class="chapter" title="Chapter 1. Introduction"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title"><a id="intro"></a>Chapter 1. Introduction</h2></div></div></div><div class="toc"><p><b>Table of Contents</b></p><dl><dt><span class="sect1"><a href="ch01.html#glossary">Glossary</a></span></dt></dl></div><p>
This framework is designed to provide a standard kernel
interface to control voltage and current regulators.
</p><p>
The intention is to allow systems to dynamically control
regulator power output in order to save power and prolong
battery life. This applies to both voltage regulators (where
voltage output is controllable) and current sinks (where current
limit is controllable).
</p><p>
Note that additional (and currently more complete) documentation
is available in the Linux kernel source under
<code class="filename">Documentation/power/regulator</code>.
</p><div class="sect1" title="Glossary"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a id="glossary"></a>Glossary</h2></div></div></div><p>
The regulator API uses a number of terms which may not be
familiar:
</p><div class="glossary" title="Glossary"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a id="id2901761"></a>Glossary</h3></div></div></div><dl><dt>Regulator</dt><dd><p>
Electronic device that supplies power to other devices. Most
regulators can enable and disable their output and some can also
control their output voltage or current.
</p></dd><dt>Consumer</dt><dd><p>
Electronic device which consumes power provided by a regulator.
These may either be static, requiring only a fixed supply, or
dynamic, requiring active management of the regulator at
runtime.
</p></dd><dt>Power Domain</dt><dd><p>
The electronic circuit supplied by a given regulator, including
the regulator and all consumer devices. The configuration of
the regulator is shared between all the components in the
circuit.
</p></dd><dt>Power Management Integrated Circuit</dt><dd><p>
An IC which contains numerous regulators and often also other
subsystems. In an embedded system the primary PMIC is often
equivalent to a combination of the PSU and southbridge in a
desktop system.
</p></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr /><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="index.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"> </td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch02.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Voltage and current regulator API </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> Chapter 2. Consumer driver interface</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
