CTAT Voltage Generation Circuit With Slope and Offset Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices, such as NAND flash memory and DRAM, experience decreased cell current at low temperatures, necessitating higher voltages for normal operations, which existing temperature compensation methods struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A voltage generation circuit with a current generation circuit, slope trimming circuit, and offset trimming circuit generates a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) output voltage with enhanced linearity by using a reference current with a constant magnitude and adjustable slope and offset, independent of operation temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If higher voltage is applied to compensate for decreased cell current at low temperature, then normal operation is ensured, but operation variation increases and requires complex temperature compensation circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of reference current from temperature-dependent to temperature-independent (constant magnitude). By using a constant reference current regardless of operation temperature, the circuit generates a CTAT voltage with enhanced linearity, eliminating the need for complex temperature compensation mechanisms while ensuring reliable operation across temperature ranges.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex temperature compensation methods are used to address low temperature operation, then voltage compensation is achieved, but circuit complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the temperature-dependent variable from the reference current generation. By removing the temperature variation factor and using only a constant reference current, the circuit achieves simplified manufacturing while still compensating for temperature effects through the inherent CTAT characteristics of the voltage generation mechanism.
3Stability of the object's composition
If temperature-dependent reference current is used in voltage generation, then circuit operation is maintained, but CTAT voltage linearity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reference current parameter from temperature-dependent to temperature-independent. This parameter change enhances the linearity of the CTAT output voltage while maintaining stable circuit operation, as the constant reference current provides a stable basis for voltage generation without introducing temperature-induced non-linearities.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage generation circuit includes a current generation circuit, a slope trimming circuit and an offset trimming circuit. The current generation circuit is connected between an input voltage node and an output node that outputs a complementary to absolute temperature (CTAT) output voltage that decreases as an operation temperature increases. The current generation circuit generates a reference current flowing through the output node, the reference current having a constant magnitude regardless of the operation temperature. The slope trimming circuit is connected between the output node and an intermediate node. The slope trimming circuit adjusts a slope of the CTAT output voltage based on a first trimming code. The offset trimming circuit is connected between the intermediate node and a ground voltage node. The offset trimming circuit configured to adjust an offset voltage of the CTAT output voltage based on a second trimming code.