Dual Power-Up Signal Circuit for Stable Internal Voltage Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor memory devices, particularly in mobile products, the internal voltage becomes unstable due to low power supply voltage requirements, leading to potential fatal errors as the power-up signal resets all logic modules, causing the internal voltage level to descend and become unstable.
Innovation Solution
A dual power-up signal generator is introduced, which includes a power supply voltage level detector and two power-up signal drivers. The first power-up signal resets the logic module's registers, while the second power-up signal controls the internal voltage driver, using distinct voltage signals to maintain a stable internal voltage level by differentiating the power-up levels for the logic module and internal voltage generator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the power-up signal is activated at low power supply voltage to reset logic modules, then the power-up operation is completed, but the internal voltage level descends and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The power-up signal generation is segmented into two independent paths: a first power-up signal for resetting logic module registers and a second power-up signal for controlling the internal voltage driver. This segmentation allows each signal to be optimized independently, enabling the internal voltage driver to remain active (second power-up signal low) while logic modules are reset (first power-up signal high), preventing internal voltage descent and instability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different voltage detection thresholds are applied to generate the two power-up signals. The first power-up signal uses a threshold suitable for logic module reset, while the second power-up signal uses a different threshold optimized for internal voltage driver control. This local quality differentiation ensures that the internal voltage driver receives appropriate control signals independent of the logic module reset timing.
2Device complexity
If a single power-up signal is used to control both logic modules and internal voltage driver, then the device complexity is reduced, but the internal voltage becomes unstable under low power supply voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The single power-up signal control is segmented into two separate power-up signals with independent generation paths and detection thresholds. This segmentation resolves the conflict between device simplicity and voltage stability by allowing targeted control: the internal voltage driver is controlled by a dedicated second power-up signal that maintains stability, while logic modules are controlled by the first power-up signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection voltage thresholds are changed and differentiated between the two power-up signal generation paths. By using different threshold parameters for detecting when to activate the logic module reset versus when to activate the internal voltage driver control, the system achieves both low-power operation and voltage stability without requiring a single complex control signal.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual power-up signal generator includes a power-up signal generator which generates a first power-up signal by using a first voltage signal obtained by detecting a level of a power supply voltage, and generates a second power-up signal by using a second voltage signal obtained by detecting the level of the power supply voltage.