how to best map device regulators

how to best map device regulators

[Heiko Stübner]

Hi,

I'm at an impass on how to implement specific regulators found in an existing 
device.

My first candidate is a "GMT G9093", i.e. two fixed voltage regulators in one ic 
controlled via GPIOs. Here intuition suggest to simply use two instances of 
the fixed-driver - no use in duplicating its function. Correct?


Second, more complex chip, is a TI tps650240, i.e. 3 fixed voltage regulators, 
1 regulator switchable between 2 voltages - all controllable via GPIOs -  and 
two regulators whose enabled-state is controlled by one gpio only.

Here I'm torn between (1) building a new driver and (2) using fixed voltage 
drivers and building a switch-driver for the two voltage-regulator (here I'm 
also not sure if this should be crammed into the fixed-driver, as I think it is 
called fixed for a reason). For (2) I'm also not sure, on how to implement 
support for the two regulators controlled by one gpio.

Thanks
Heiko

Re: how to best map device regulators

[Mark Brown]

On Fri, Sep 02, 2011 at 11:42:00AM +0200, Heiko Stübner wrote:

> My first candidate is a "GMT G9093", i.e. two fixed voltage regulators in one ic 
> controlled via GPIOs. Here intuition suggest to simply use two instances of 
> the fixed-driver - no use in duplicating its function. Correct?

Seems sensible.

> Second, more complex chip, is a TI tps650240, i.e. 3 fixed voltage regulators, 
> 1 regulator switchable between 2 voltages - all controllable via GPIOs -  and 
> two regulators whose enabled-state is controlled by one gpio only.

> Here I'm torn between (1) building a new driver and (2) using fixed voltage 
> drivers and building a switch-driver for the two voltage-regulator (here I'm 
> also not sure if this should be crammed into the fixed-driver, as I think it is 

A separate driver for one that can select voltages seems sensible.

> called fixed for a reason). For (2) I'm also not sure, on how to implement 
> support for the two regulators controlled by one gpio.

That's not really well supported but from a system integration point of
view it's usually fine since the design tends to be such that the two
are always enabled together so you can just give the enable to one of
the regulators and ignore the fact that it's actually controlling both
and software actually works fine even if it's not truly correct.