Multi-Gated I/O Power-On Control for Stable Signal Ramp-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit (IC) I/O circuits face glitches during power ramp-up due to unstable signal transitions, leading to inefficiencies in signal communication and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A system for generating gated power-on control signals that uses a multi-gated I/O interface with a gating signals generator to control the enabling of output and input level shifters and drivers, ensuring signals stabilize before transmission, thereby preventing glitches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If power ramp-up is performed quickly to improve power-on speed, then power-on time is reduced, but signal stability deteriorates causing glitches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling the output level shifter before the output driver, and enabling the input buffer before the input level shifter. This sequencing ensures that level shifting and signal conditioning are completed before full signal transmission begins, allowing signals to stabilize during the transition and preventing glitches even during fast power ramp-up
2Reliability
If multiple gating signals are used to control signal stabilization, then signal reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power-on control into multiple independent gating signals (first gating signal for output path, second gating signal for input path, third gating signal for additional control). Each gating signal independently controls specific circuit blocks, allowing precise control of signal stabilization without requiring complex interdependent control logic
Solution Approach 2:
The gating signals act as intermediaries between the power management logic and the I/O circuit blocks. These intermediate control signals simplify the overall control architecture by providing a standardized interface for enabling different circuit blocks in the proper sequence, reducing the complexity of direct control logic
Data Source
AI summary
A system (for generating multi-gated power-on control signals) includes: a multi-gated input/out (I/O) interface configured to receive at least first and second gating signals; and a gated power-on control (POC) signals generator configured to generate at least the first and second gating signals for the multi-gated I/O interface, a waveform of the first gating signal being different from a waveform of the second gating signal.