Semiconductor IC Voltage Control with Shared Selection Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor IC voltage control devices require additional circuit components and increased signal lines, leading to reduced layout margin and complex circuit designs due to the need for separate components for generating test signals, counting, and decoding, which increases the circuit area and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for controlling semiconductor IC voltages using a voltage selecting unit, a control step selecting unit, and a voltage controlling unit, which generate and select signals to control voltage levels in a more efficient manner, minimizing the need for additional circuit components and signal lines by using counters and decoders to select and control voltage levels based on control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate circuit components (counters, decoders, voltage controllers) are used for each internal voltage, then voltage control functionality is achieved, but circuit area increases and layout margin decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate voltage control circuits into a single integrated voltage control device. Instead of having independent counters, decoders, and voltage controllers for each internal voltage (VA, VB, VC, VD, VE), the invention combines these functions into one unified device that selectively controls multiple voltages using shared components, thereby reducing overall circuit area while maintaining full voltage control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage control device is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions. The single counter, decoder, and voltage controller unit can handle multiple voltage lines (VA-VE) by selectively enabling different output paths based on control signals, making the device multi-functional rather than requiring dedicated components for each voltage line.
2Reliability
If separate circuit components are used for each internal voltage, then voltage control is achieved, but the number of signal lines increases and circuit design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate control circuits into a single integrated device, merging the functions of multiple counters, decoders, and voltage controllers into one unified structure. This consolidation reduces the total number of signal lines needed for inter-component communication and simplifies the overall circuit design while preserving the ability to control multiple internal voltages independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a path selecting unit as an intermediary component that manages the selection of which voltage line to control. This mediator component receives control signals and routes them to the appropriate voltage output path, simplifying the control architecture by providing a centralized selection mechanism rather than requiring separate control paths for each voltage.
3Ease of operation
If multiple counters and decoders are used for each voltage, then voltage selection control is achieved, but circuit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate counter and decoder units into a single shared unit that serves all voltage lines. The unified counter-decoder device can selectively generate control signals for any of the multiple voltage lines (VA, VB, VC, VD, VE) based on input signals, eliminating the need for redundant counter and decoder components for each voltage while maintaining full selection control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The counter and decoder unit is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple voltage selection tasks. By using a single multi-functional unit with appropriate control logic and path selection, the device can selectively control any of the multiple internal voltages without requiring dedicated counters and decoders for each voltage line, thereby reducing circuit area.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling a voltage of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a voltage selecting unit that generates a voltage selecting signal for selecting a voltage to be controlled among a plurality of voltages by using a first control signal, a control step selecting unit that generates a control step selection signal for selecting a control step of the voltage to be controlled by using a second control signal, and a voltage controlling unit that controls a level of the voltage to be controlled among the plurality of voltages in response to the control step selection signal.