Charge Pump Charge Sharing for Flash Memory Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charge pumps face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in non-volatile memory applications where capacitive loading increases with shrinking device sizes, leading to higher power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a charge sharing and boost clocking mechanism in charge pump circuits, where energy dissipated during discharging is recycled to charge other capacitors, using a two-phase pump clock and additional clock signals to facilitate efficient energy transfer between branches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional charge pump operation is used, then voltage boosting function is achieved, but power consumption increases due to capacitive loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recycles the energy that would normally be dissipated during capacitor discharge by redirecting it through a charge sharing circuit to charge other capacitors. This converts the harmful energy loss into a beneficial resource that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining the voltage boosting function
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the energy stored in capacitors during discharge cycles, the patent implements a charge sharing mechanism that recovers this energy and transfers it to other capacitors in the circuit, thereby reducing the power required for charging operations
2Area of stationary object
If device size shrinks, then integration density improves, but capacitive loading increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The charge sharing circuit converts the harmful effect of increased capacitive loading into a benefit by recycling discharge energy to offset charging requirements, thereby reducing power consumption despite smaller device size and higher capacitance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the discharge function with the charge function by implementing charge sharing between capacitors. The energy that would be lost during discharge is instead combined with charging operations, reducing the net power required
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 approach reduces power consumption by recycling energy, maintaining performance while minimizing the power required for charging and discharging operations in charge pump systems.
Implementation Method 1
the charge sharing circuit is active when either the first or second clock signal is falling... Transferred charge between charge between the first and second nodes
Data Source
AI summary
A charge pump circuit for generating an output voltage is described. Charge pump circuits typically have two branches. As the clocks supplying the branches of a charge pump circuit alternate, the output of each branch will alternately provide an output voltage, which are then combined to form the pump output. The techniques described here allow charge to be transferred between the two branches, so that as the capacitor of one branch discharges, it is used to charge up the capacitor in the other branch. An exemplary embodiment using a voltage doubler-type of circuit, with the charge transfer between the branches accomplished using a switch controller by a boosted version of the clock signal, which is provided by a one-sided voltage doubler.