Boosted Voltage Supply Circuit for Flash Memory Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
In flash memory devices, maintaining constant voltage levels becomes challenging as the number of simultaneously programmed memory cells increases, leading to inefficient current consumption due to the need for dummy program currents.
Innovation Solution
A boosted voltage supply circuit with a voltage dividing circuit and current detection circuit is implemented, where the output voltage of a charge pump is detected, and an oscillation circuit is controlled to maintain constant voltage, and a control current is generated to adjust the output current, ensuring constant voltage delivery regardless of program current changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If dummy program current generating elements are added to maintain constant voltage, then voltage stability is improved, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback control mechanism is implemented where the output voltage of the charge pump is detected by a voltage dividing circuit, and the detected voltage is used to control the oscillation circuit that drives the charge pump. This closed-loop feedback system dynamically adjusts the charge pump operation to maintain constant output voltage without requiring dummy current sources, thereby resolving the contradiction between voltage stability and current consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from fixed dummy current injection to dynamic control current adjustment based on detected output voltage. The control current is adjusted according to the magnitude of detected output current, allowing the system to adapt to varying program current demands while maintaining voltage stability and minimizing power consumption.
2Productivity
If the number of simultaneously programmed memory cells increases, then programming throughput is improved, but voltage level stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors the output voltage and adjusts the charge pump operation in real-time. When the number of simultaneously programmed memory cells increases and program current increases, the feedback mechanism detects the voltage drop and adjusts the charge pump to compensate, maintaining voltage stability while enabling high-throughput parallel programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a static voltage maintenance approach using fixed dummy currents to a dynamic control system that continuously adapts to changing load conditions. The oscillation circuit's on-off control and variable control current adjustment allow the system to dynamically respond to varying program current demands, enabling stable voltage delivery during high-speed parallel programming operations.
3Power
If output current of charge pump increases to meet higher program current demands, then programming capability is improved, but output voltage becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system detects the output voltage and uses this information to control the oscillation circuit that drives the charge pump. When program current demands increase and the charge pump output current increases, the feedback mechanism detects the resulting voltage changes and adjusts the charge pump operation to maintain constant output voltage, thereby resolving the contradiction between programming capability and voltage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own output voltage detection to automatically regulate its operation. The voltage dividing circuit detects the output voltage, and this detected signal is fed back to control the oscillation circuit, creating a self-regulating system that automatically maintains voltage stability without external intervention, even as programming demands vary.
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
This solution effectively maintains constant output voltage in the boosted voltage circuit, reducing power consumption and improving the efficiency of flash memory operations by dynamically adjusting the control current based on detected output currents.
Implementation Method 1
an output voltage of a charge pump is detected by a voltage dividing circuit
Implementation Method 2
an output voltage of a charge pump is detected by a voltage dividing circuit
Data Source
AI summary
To maintain constant an output voltage of a boosted voltage circuit even when a program current of a nonvolatile memory increases; in a boosted voltage circuit provided in a semiconductor device, an output voltage of a charge pump is detected by a voltage dividing circuit, and on-off control is performed on an oscillation circuit for driving the charge pump so that the detected output voltage becomes constant. Further, an output current of the charge pump is detected, and a control current according to a magnitude of the detected output current is generated. The control current is fed into or drawn from a coupling node between a plurality of series-coupled resistance elements configuring the voltage dividing circuit.