Digital Self-Adjusting Power Supply for PVT Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital control loop circuits for semiconductor devices face challenges in maintaining a constant supply voltage over variations in process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) without relying on complex band gap reference voltage sources or proportional integrator differentiator (PID) circuits, leading to inefficiencies and hardware burdens.
Innovation Solution
A digital self-adjusting minimum power supply system with a closed loop controller, comprising a slack time detector, voltage adjuster, and pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator, dynamically adjusts the duty ratio to maintain a substantially constant supply voltage using a finite state machine and error scaling factor, eliminating the need for analog circuits and PID control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If band gap reference voltage sources or PID circuits are used to maintain constant supply voltage over PVT variations, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity and hardware burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex band gap reference voltage sources and PID circuits from the system, replacing them with a simplified digital control approach that uses only basic digital logic components while maintaining voltage stability over PVT variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes analog control mechanisms (band gap references and PID circuits) with a digital control system that uses discrete logic elements, finite state machines, and digital signal processing to achieve the same voltage regulation function with reduced hardware complexity
2Speed
If supply voltage is increased to compensate for process parameter variations, then propagation delay is reduced, but power consumption increases quadratically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment where the supply voltage is continuously adapted based on real-time process parameter measurements and operating conditions, allowing the system to use minimum necessary voltage for each condition rather than maintaining a fixed high voltage level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the supply voltage parameter dynamically based on process, voltage, and temperature conditions, using a digital control system that adjusts voltage levels to match actual operating requirements rather than using a fixed conservative voltage level
3Use of energy by moving object
If operating frequency is reduced to improve energy efficiency, then power consumption decreases, but propagation delay increases and performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of both frequency and voltage together, allowing the system to operate at lower frequencies with proportionally reduced voltages to achieve quadratic power savings, while maintaining performance through optimal frequency-voltage pairing based on actual computational requirements
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 provides a stable and efficient power supply that adapts to PVT variations, ensuring proper operation while reducing hardware complexity and power dissipation, and achieving optimal voltage regulation across different process corners and frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
a pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator
Implementation Method 2
DC-DC buck converter
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is disclosed that provides a digital self-adjusting power supply for semiconductor digital circuits. The power supply provides a substantially constant minimum supply voltage with regard to process corner, junction temperature, external voltage source, load variation, and operating frequency. The system comprises a slack time detector, a voltage adjuster, and a digital pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator. The system supplies a minimum required voltage without the used of a band gap or reference voltage. A finite state machine is also used to minimize oscillations introduced by start-up, load transients, frequency changes, and the like, thereby eliminating the need for a proportional integrator differentiator (PID) circuit.