A predictive power regulation apparatus and method that minimizes power
and ground bounce in a logic device. The apparatus includes a predictor
and a voltage or current smoothing device connected to the predictor. The
voltage or current smoothing device outputs adjusted voltage or current
to power and ground planes of the logic device. In one embodiment, the
predictor includes an instruction scanner device and a look-up table
connected to the instruction scanner device. The instruction scanner
device determines the next instruction to be executed by the logic
device. A voltage/current scheduling buffer connected to the look-up
table contains voltage and current compensation and the time at which the
voltage or current compensation should be requested from the voltage or
current smoothing device. An alternative predictive power regulation
apparatus is described that reduces power and ground bounce caused by the
I/O buffer circuitry switching in the logic device.