Adaptive Supply Voltage Glitch Detector for ICs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monolithic integrated circuit devices face challenges in accurately detecting supply voltage glitches due to narrow or broad operating condition margins, leading to false triggers or non-responsiveness, which can result in incorrect operation or damage.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive supply voltage glitch detector is implemented, which dynamically adjusts detection thresholds and pulse widths based on the device's mode of operation, using inputs like commands and control signals to set adaptive low and high voltage thresholds, thereby providing a wider operating window to account for PVT variations and internal current consumption effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed detection thresholds are used in analog detection circuits, then the device can detect out-of-spec conditions, but false triggers occur when margins are too narrow or the device becomes overly unresponsive when margins are too broad
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic detection thresholds that automatically adjust based on the operational mode of the integrated circuit device. The detection circuit transitions from fixed thresholds to dynamically adjustable thresholds that adapt to different operating conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and adaptability to varying operational margins
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameters (thresholds and pulse widths) based on the operational mode of the device. By modifying these parameters dynamically according to the current operating conditions, the system achieves both accurate detection and appropriate responsiveness across different operational scenarios
2Measurement precision
If narrow operating condition margins are set for glitch detection, then detection sensitivity increases, but false triggers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic adjustment of detection thresholds based on operational mode, allowing the system to maintain high detection sensitivity while adapting the threshold level to prevent false triggers during specific operations such as programming modes where voltage fluctuations are expected
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies detection parameters (thresholds and pulse widths) according to the operational state of the device, enabling the system to achieve precise glitch detection without excessive false alarms by adjusting parameters to match the expected operational characteristics of each mode
3Reliability
If broad operating condition margins are set for glitch detection, then false triggers are reduced, but the device becomes overly unresponsive to actual glitches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic threshold adjustment that allows the system to use broader margins during normal operation to reduce false triggers, while automatically tightening the detection sensitivity when operating modes that are more vulnerable to glitches are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and detection precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adaptive glitch detector effectively reduces false alarms and ensures accurate detection of supply voltage glitches, preventing unnecessary device shut-offs or resets by setting appropriate thresholds for different operational modes, thus enhancing the reliability and safety of the integrated circuit devices.
Implementation Method 1
supply voltage glitch detector having an adaptive low voltage threshold that varies as a function of the mode of operation of the flash memory array... by comparing a supply voltage with a reference voltage in a comparator
Implementation Method 2
a delay circuit that generates a minimum glitch width signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A monolithic integrated circuit device may include a supply voltage glitch detector (10) for detecting improper supply voltage conditions. Advantageously, the detection threshold of the supply voltage glitch detector is adaptively set based on the mode of operation of the device or a particular part of the device, which is internally known to the device based on certain inputs received by the device, such as commands, interrupts, control signals, and so forth.