Internal Voltage Generator With Adaptive Offset Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal voltage generators in semiconductor memory devices face challenges in maintaining a stable center voltage during manufacturing deviations, leading to increased setup time and power consumption, and are affected by offset and gain errors due to process variations.
Innovation Solution
An internal voltage generator with a reference voltage generation block, comparator block, output driving block, and offset section control block, which outputs multiple reference voltages and switch control signals to optimize the internal voltage generation, reducing the dead zone and improving tolerance to manufacturing variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the offset section is increased to prevent simultaneous turn-on of MOS transistors, then power consumption is reduced, but the dead zone increases and voltage adjustment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the offset section variable rather than fixed. The offset control block dynamically adjusts the offset voltage based on the internal voltage level, allowing the offset section to be large when needed (to prevent simultaneous turn-on) and small when precision is needed (to reduce dead zone). This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of offset voltage from a fixed value to a variable value that can be adjusted based on operating conditions. The offset control block modifies the offset voltage parameter dynamically, allowing the system to optimize between power consumption and precision by changing this key parameter rather than being constrained to a fixed value.
2Device complexity
If conventional fixed offset voltage is used, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but voltage stability deteriorates under process parameter deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the internal voltage level and using this information to adjust the offset voltage. The offset control block receives feedback about the current voltage state and modifies the offset accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains voltage stability despite process variations. This feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for deviations automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically adjusting its own offset voltage based on its operating state. The offset control block uses the internal voltage information to self-regulate the offset, eliminating the need for external manual adjustment or complex external control circuits. This self-adjusting capability maintains voltage stability while keeping the overall circuit relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual offset adjustment is used, then manufacturing precision can be improved, but setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple fixed offset voltage levels that correspond to different process conditions. Instead of requiring manual adjustment during setup, the system has multiple offset levels prepared in advance, and the appropriate level is automatically selected based on the process parameters. This eliminates manual adjustment time while maintaining the precision benefits of offset adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically selecting and applying the appropriate offset voltage level based on process parameters without requiring manual intervention. The offset control block autonomously determines the correct offset level and configures the circuit accordingly, eliminating setup time while maintaining manufacturing precision through automatic adaptation to process variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An internal voltage generator is highly tolerant of electrical parameter changes of transistors occurring due to process deviation. The generator can produce an internal voltage within a short setup time when there is a significant difference between a voltage level of an internal voltage when power is initially supplied to the internal voltage generator and a voltage level of an internal voltage to be produced. In one embodiment, the internal voltage generator of the present invention includes a comparator block and an output driving block to produce an internal voltage. The internal voltage generator further includes a reference voltage generation block, which generates at least two reference voltages to be supplied to the comparator block, and an offset section control block, which supplies a control signal for optimizing an offset section, that is, a voltage difference between the reference voltages, to the reference voltage generation block. The internal voltage generator can further optionally include an auxiliary output driving block in addition to a main output driving block to reduce the setup time for which the internal voltage is produced when voltage is initially supplied and to reduce power consumption. The internal voltage generator further includes a first control signal generation block and a control block to control operations of the main and auxiliary output driving blocks.