LDO Regulator Feedback Circuit for Voltage Drop Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor devices, shared and centralized low-dropout (LDO) regulators face voltage drop issues due to wire resistance across multiple macros, leading to reduced write performance and near-far effects, as the number of connected macros increases.
Innovation Solution
A location-aware feedback loop is implemented in the LDO voltage regulator circuit, dynamically monitoring and adjusting the instantaneous voltage at each macro connection node to maintain a stable output voltage, using a feedback path from each macro connection node to a comparator within the LDO voltage regulator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a shared and centralized LDO regulator is adopted for multiple memory macros to save area, then area is reduced, but wire resistance increases with the number of connected macros, causing voltage drop and reduced write performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single centralized LDO regulator into multiple distributed LDO regulators, each serving a specific memory macro. This segmentation eliminates the long interconnect wires between the centralized LDO and distant macros, thereby reducing wire resistance and voltage drop while maintaining area efficiency through localized voltage regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local voltage regulation by placing an LDO regulator within or near each memory macro. This local quality approach ensures that each macro receives stable voltage from its own dedicated regulator, compensating for the variations in wire resistance that would otherwise affect macros at different distances from a centralized source.
2Productivity
If the number of connected macros increases, then productivity is improved, but voltage drop due to wire resistance worsens, causing near-far effect and reduced write performance
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the voltage regulation function across multiple independent LDO regulators distributed throughout the memory array, the patent enables scaling to more macros without degrading write performance. Each macro's dedicated LDO ensures stable voltage delivery regardless of the total number of macros in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces local LDO regulators as intermediary devices between the power supply and each memory macro. These intermediaries actively compensate for voltage drops in the power distribution network, ensuring that each macro receives the required voltage level for reliable write operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage regulator circuit is provided. The voltage regulator circuit includes a voltage regulator configured to provide an output voltage at an output terminal. A plurality of macros are connectable at a plurality of connection nodes of a connector connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator. A feedback circuit having a plurality of feedback loops is connectable to the plurality of connection nodes. The feedback loop of the plurality of feedback loops, when connected to a connection node of the plurality of connection nodes, is configured to provide an instantaneous voltage of the connection node as a feedback to the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is configured, in response to the instantaneous voltage, regulate the output voltage to maintain the instantaneous voltage of the connection node approximately equal to a reference voltage.