Dynamic Voltage Control for Semiconductor Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor apparatuses face inefficiencies in power consumption due to their circuit design being based on the minimum operating voltage, regardless of the actual external power supply voltage level.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor apparatus with an internal voltage generation circuit and a control circuit that determines the level of the external voltage relative to a minimum and target operating voltage, and adjusts the operation of sub-circuits to optimize internal voltage generation and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the circuit design is based on the minimum operating voltage to satisfy voltage variations, then the circuit can operate across the full voltage range, but power consumption efficiency deteriorates because the circuit cannot optimize for actual voltage levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control by dividing the voltage range into multiple regions and selectively activating sub-circuits based on the actual external voltage level. The control circuit dynamically adjusts which sub-circuits operate according to the determined voltage region, enabling the system to adapt power consumption to actual operating conditions rather than designing for minimum voltage only.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal voltage generation circuit is segmented into multiple sub-circuits that can be independently controlled. Each sub-circuit is optimized for specific voltage ranges, and the control circuit selects appropriate sub-circuits based on the external voltage level, allowing the system to achieve both voltage adaptability and power efficiency by using only necessary sub-circuits.
2Reliability
If the circuit is designed for minimum operating voltage, then reliability is maintained across voltage variations, but power consumption increases because the circuit cannot deactivate sub-circuits when external voltage is sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit receives external voltage information and uses a lookup table to determine the voltage region, then feeds back control signals to activate or deactivate specific sub-circuits accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the system maintains reliability by activating necessary sub-circuits while reducing power loss by deactivating unnecessary ones when external voltage is sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state parameters of sub-circuits based on the external voltage level. By determining which sub-circuits to activate or deactivate according to the voltage region, the system optimizes both reliability and power consumption by adjusting circuit parameters dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If all sub-circuits operate continuously to ensure sufficient voltage generation, then power supply stability is maintained, but power consumption efficiency decreases due to unnecessary operation of sub-circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sub-circuit operation dynamic by determining which sub-circuits to activate based on the external voltage level and lookup table results. Instead of continuous operation, the system dynamically adjusts sub-circuit activation to match actual power needs, maintaining stability when necessary while reducing consumption when external voltage is sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sub-circuits are designed with specialized functions optimized for specific voltage ranges. The control circuit activates only the sub-circuits needed for the current operating condition, allowing each active sub-circuit to operate at optimal efficiency rather than requiring all sub-circuits to run continuously at full capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor apparatus includes an internal voltage generation circuit and a control circuit. The internal voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of sub-circuits that receive an external voltage as an input and generate at least one internal voltage based on the external voltage. The control circuit determines where the external voltage falls within a range between a minimum operating voltage and a target operating voltage according to power information and a built-in lookup table and controls the plurality of sub-circuits according to a result of the determination.