Charge Pump Voltage Booster for Regulated Analog Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit (IC) chips face challenges in efficiently generating varying higher supply voltages from a single lower operational voltage, especially in consumer and IoT applications, due to increasing demands for different driving voltages while minimizing cost and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A mixed-signal IC chip incorporates a charge pump configuration with a voltage booster, utilizing a network of capacitors and a ring oscillator to generate a regulated boosted voltage from an input voltage, allowing for adjustable voltage supply to analog components, and includes a control and monitoring engine to manage voltage ripples and load current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate voltage generators are used to provide different driving voltages to analog and digital circuits, then each circuit can receive its required voltage, but the system cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voltage generation functions into a single integrated voltage generator that can simultaneously provide different driving voltages to both analog and digital circuits. This unified generator integrates multiple voltage pump circuits and control mechanisms, reducing the overall number of separate voltage generators while maintaining reliable voltage supply to all circuit blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage generator is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple circuit blocks with different voltage requirements. It incorporates adjustable voltage pump circuits that can generate different output voltages based on control signals, allowing a single generator to replace multiple dedicated voltage generators for analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single lower operational voltage is used for the IC chip, then system cost is reduced, but the ability to provide higher supply voltages for analog components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs voltage pump circuits that can dynamically change output voltage parameters based on control signals. The voltage generator receives a single lower input voltage and uses capacitive pumping mechanisms to generate higher output voltages with adjustable amplitude, enabling analog components to receive appropriate higher supply voltages while the overall system operates from a single lower voltage source.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage pump circuits act as intermediary devices between the single lower input voltage source and the various circuit blocks requiring different higher voltages. These pumps transform the input voltage into multiple output voltage levels through capacitive charging and discharging cycles, mediated by control signals that adjust the pumping action to match the specific voltage needs of different circuit blocks.
3Reliability
If higher supply voltages are generated for analog components, then analog circuit performance improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage generator incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that adjust the output voltage and pumping frequency based on the actual power consumption requirements of connected circuit blocks. The control circuit monitors load conditions and modulates the voltage pump operation accordingly, providing higher voltages only when and where needed, thereby optimizing analog circuit performance while minimizing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides different voltage levels to different circuit blocks based on their specific requirements. Analog components that need higher voltages for optimal performance receive localized high voltage supply through dedicated voltage pump outputs, while digital circuits operating at lower voltages receive appropriate lower voltage levels. This localized voltage optimization ensures each circuit block operates efficiently at its required voltage level.
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 enables efficient generation of higher voltages on the IC chip from a single lower input voltage, reducing system costs and power consumption by integrating a localized high voltage generator, while maintaining optimal voltage levels and minimizing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more charge pump devices comprise a network of capacitors switchable to provide a charged pumped in response to the control signal
Implementation Method 2
a voltage regulator coupled to the one or more charge pump devices and configured to receive the boosted voltage and generate a regulated boosted voltage based on the boosted voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A mixed-signal integrated circuit (IC), including: a voltage booster that includes one or more charge pump devices configured to receive an input voltage, an oscillator signal, and a control signal, wherein the one or more charge pump devices comprise a network of capacitors switchable to provide a charged pumped in response to the control signal, and wherein the one or more charge pump devices, using the pumped, generate a boosted voltage based on the input voltage and at least a portion of an amplitude of the oscillator signal, a voltage regulator coupled to the one or more charge pump devices and configured to receive the boosted voltage and generate a regulated boosted voltage based on the boosted voltage, and a control and monitoring engine configured to provide the control signal based on, at least in part, the input voltage, the oscillator signal, and the regulated boosted voltage.