Internal Voltage Generation Circuit Shared Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor memory devices face inefficiencies in internal voltage generation, leading to operation errors and increased layout area due to excessive consumption of internal voltages, as they require separate voltage pumps for each voltage, reducing pump efficiency and increasing layout space.
Innovation Solution
An internal voltage generation circuit that shares a voltage pump to generate multiple internal voltages, using detectors and oscillators to selectively transmit pumping voltages as needed, thereby improving efficiency and reducing layout area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate voltage pumps are used for each internal voltage, then each voltage can be generated independently, but the layout area increases and pump efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single voltage pump that can serve multiple functions by generating different internal voltages (VPP and VBB) through selective connection to different capacitors. The pump structure remains universal while accommodating multiple voltage generation needs, thereby reducing layout area without sacrificing the ability to generate required voltages independently when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple voltage generation functions into a single voltage pump unit. By combining the pumping operation for both VPP and VBB into one shared pump, the design reduces the number of separate pump circuits, thereby decreasing the overall layout area while maintaining the capability to generate both voltages as required.
2Ease of operation
If the cycle of the oscillation signal is reduced to increase drivability, then the internal voltage can be driven harder, but the pump efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the oscillation signal cycle through the detector unit, which adjusts the pumping operation based on the actual consumption levels of internal voltages. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between drivability and pump efficiency by adapting the oscillation cycle to real-time voltage consumption conditions rather than using a fixed reduced cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector unit provides feedback on the internal voltage levels and consumption patterns to the voltage pump control mechanism. This feedback enables the system to adjust the oscillation signal characteristics appropriately, maintaining pump efficiency while ensuring sufficient drivability by only increasing pumping activity when actually needed based on measured voltage consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the number of voltage pumps is increased to increase drivability, then the internal voltage can be driven harder, but the layout area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single voltage pump universal by enabling it to serve multiple voltage generation functions through selective capacitor connections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate pump circuits, thereby maintaining high drivability capability while significantly reducing the layout area that would be required for multiple pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple voltage pump functions into a single integrated pump unit that can be selectively configured to generate different internal voltages. By merging what would traditionally require separate pump circuits into one shared pump, the design achieves the required drivability for multiple voltages without proportionally increasing the layout area.
Data Source
AI summary
An internal voltage generation circuit includes a pumping voltage generation unit configured to generate a pumping voltage when a first internal voltage has a lower level than a first reference voltage or a second internal voltage has a lower level than a second reference voltage, and a select transmission unit configured to selectively transmit the pumping voltage as the first internal voltage or the second internal voltage.