Charge Pump Oscillator Frequency Control for Low Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charge pumps struggle to provide sufficient output current at lower supply voltages, compromising their ability to deliver high voltages required for operations like programming in semiconductor devices, such as smart cards, due to increased leakage and reduced power supply.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an oscillator with a frequency that increases as the supply voltage decreases, coupled with a voltage storage/discharge stage, which enhances the discharge frequency and output current, allowing for higher voltage generation while maintaining sufficient power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a conventional charge pump is used to generate higher voltage from lower supply voltage, then voltage multiplication is achieved, but output current becomes insufficient due to increased leakage and reduced power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The charge pump circuit dynamically adjusts its operating frequency based on the supply voltage level. When supply voltage decreases, the oscillator frequency increases, which compensates for the reduced voltage headroom and maintains sufficient output current despite increased leakage effects. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between voltage multiplication capability and output current delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the charge pump by varying the oscillator frequency in response to supply voltage changes. By increasing frequency when supply voltage is low, the system maintains power delivery capability while still achieving the required voltage multiplication, thus resolving the contradiction between high voltage generation and sufficient output current.
2Use of energy by moving object
If supply voltage is reduced to save power and shrink device geometry, then power consumption decreases, but the ability to provide sufficient output current at high voltage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charge pump dynamically responds to reduced supply voltage by increasing its operating frequency, which compensates for the lower voltage headroom. This dynamic adjustment ensures that even though the device operates at lower supply voltage for reduced power consumption, the output current capability at the generated high voltage remains sufficient for programming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system anticipates the power and current limitations that would result from reduced supply voltage by proactively increasing the oscillator frequency. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the expected deterioration in output current capability, allowing the device to maintain both low power consumption and sufficient high-voltage output current.
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 system effectively provides a higher voltage than the supply voltage in low voltage devices like EEPROMs and Flash devices, ensuring sufficient output current and power for operations like programming, even at lower supply voltages, thereby overcoming leakage issues and improving performance in applications like smart cards.
Implementation Method 1
providing at least one oscillator and at least one voltage storage/discharge stage coupled with the at least one oscillator. The oscillator has a frequency that increases as the voltage decreases.
Implementation Method 2
The conventional capacitor-diode ladder 12 includes capacitor-diode pairs 13 (including capacitor 14 and diode 24), 15 (including capacitor 16 and diode 24), and 17 (that includes capacitor 18 and diode 28). Based on the signals CLK and CLKB, the capacitor-diode pairs 13, 15, and 17 alternately charge to approximately the supply voltage and discharge.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing an output voltage greater than a voltage provided by a voltage supply in a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method and system include providing at least one oscillator and at least one voltage storage/discharge stage coupled with the at least one oscillator. The oscillator has a frequency that increases as the voltage decreases. The frequency of the oscillator determines a discharge frequency for the at least one voltage storage/discharge stage.