Capacitive Coupled Voltage Regulator for SOC Well Bias Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing a voltage regulator for System on Chip (SOC) integrated circuits that maintains a constant difference between well bias voltage and supply voltage during low-power modes is challenging, especially under noisy conditions, and requires a low-power method to create well bias voltage while ensuring efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit (IC) with a voltage reference circuit, voltage regulator circuits, and a voltage multiplier circuit that generates and tracks multiple regulated voltages using capacitive coupling between output transistors, allowing the well bias voltage to follow the supply voltage changes while maintaining a constant delta, and employing a sample and hold circuit to reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a voltage regulator is designed to maintain a constant difference between well bias voltage and supply voltage during low-power modes, then the transistor threshold voltage and sub-threshold leakage are improved, but the regulator becomes difficult to design under noisy conditions and power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a well bias voltage regulator as an intermediary component between the supply voltage regulator and the PMOS transistor well. This regulator uses a capacitive coupling mechanism to transfer voltage variations from the supply regulator to the well bias circuit, ensuring the well voltage tracks the supply voltage while maintaining a constant offset. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving reliable transistor biasing under noisy conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the well bias voltage regulator monitors the supply voltage changes and automatically adjusts the well bias voltage to maintain a constant difference. The regulator uses the supply voltage as a reference and feeds back control signals to keep the voltage offset stable during low-power modes. This feedback approach improves reliability by ensuring consistent transistor operation while managing the complexity through automated control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the supply voltage is regulated to reduce noise, then the voltage stability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using a capacitive coupling mechanism that transfers voltage information in discrete steps rather than continuous regulation. The well bias voltage regulator samples supply voltage changes and applies corrections periodically, reducing the continuous power consumption associated with traditional voltage regulation while maintaining adequate voltage stability during low-power modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copying approach where the well bias voltage regulator creates a scaled copy of the supply voltage variations and applies them to the well bias circuit. Instead of actively regulating the supply voltage with high power consumption, the system copies the essential voltage tracking behavior through capacitive coupling, achieving voltage stability with reduced power usage.
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 IC effectively tracks and maintains the regulated voltages under various operating conditions, ensuring efficient and stable operation during low-power modes by minimizing power usage and maintaining the delta between voltages, thus addressing the challenges of noise and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
capacitively coupled to a gate terminal of the second output transistor
Implementation Method 2
a first voltage regulator circuit configured to generate a first regulated voltage based on the first reference voltage
Data Source
AI summary
An IC provides tracking between multiple regulated voltages. The IC includes, a voltage reference circuit, a voltage multiplier circuit, and first and second voltage regulator circuits. The voltage reference circuit generates a first reference voltage. The first voltage regulator circuit generates, at a first terminal of a first output transistor, a first regulated voltage that is based on the first reference voltage. The voltage multiplier circuit generates a second reference voltage from an equivalent of the first reference voltage. The second voltage regulator circuit generates, at a first terminal of a second output transistor, a second regulated voltage that is based on the second reference voltage. At least one terminal of the second output transistor is capacitively coupled to the first terminal of the first output transistor.