Level Shifter Regulation Circuit for Reliable Voltage-Domain Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Level shifters in semiconductor devices face reliability issues under extreme conditions due to voltage domain mismatches, leading to performance degradation and increased complexity and cost when using transistors with lower threshold voltages in higher voltage domains.
Innovation Solution
A level shifter design incorporating an input circuit, shifter, and output circuit with a regulation circuit to regulate control signals across different voltage domains, using transistors with lower threshold voltages and capacitors to ensure normal signal inversion under extreme conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transistors with lower threshold voltages are used in higher voltage domains to improve signal inversion under extreme conditions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a regulation circuit as an intermediary component between the shifter and the output circuit. This regulation circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor that work together to regulate the control signal, ensuring proper signal inversion without requiring all transistors to have lower threshold voltages. The intermediary regulation circuit isolates the voltage domain mismatch issue from the main signal path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using transistors with different threshold voltage characteristics in different locations within the circuit. Specifically, the first transistor and second transistor in the regulation circuit have different threshold voltages, with the first transistor having a lower threshold voltage to ensure proper turn-off under extreme conditions, while other transistors can use standard threshold voltages. This localized application of low-threshold-voltage transistors maintains reliability without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If transistors with lower threshold voltages are used in higher voltage domains to ensure proper signal inversion, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by selectively applying low-threshold-voltage transistors only where necessary - specifically in the regulation circuit's first transistor position - rather than requiring all transistors in the level shifter to be low-threshold-voltage devices. This selective approach ensures proper signal inversion under extreme conditions while minimizing the number of expensive low-threshold-voltage transistors needed, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation circuit acts as an intermediary that resolves the voltage domain mismatch issue locally, preventing the need to upgrade all transistors in the level shifter to low-threshold-voltage variants. By containing the special transistor requirements to just the regulation circuit, the patent reduces manufacturing costs compared to a design where all transistors would need to be low-threshold-voltage devices.
3Device complexity
If voltage domain mismatches are not regulated, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates under extreme conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a regulation circuit as an intermediary component that specifically addresses the voltage domain mismatch between different stages of the level shifter. This regulation circuit, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor, ensures proper signal inversion under extreme conditions without requiring a complete redesign of the entire level shifter architecture, thus maintaining relatively simple device complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The level shifter is segmented into distinct functional blocks: an input circuit, a shifter, a regulation circuit, and an output circuit. The regulation circuit is inserted as a separate segment to handle the voltage domain transition. This segmentation allows the voltage domain mismatch issue to be isolated and handled in a dedicated section, preventing it from complicating the entire circuit design while ensuring reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure provide a level shifter, a memory, a memory system, and an electronic apparatus. The level shifter includes: an input circuit, a shifter and an output circuit that are coupled sequentially, wherein the input circuit is configured to generate a first input signal in response to a first level signal; and a regulation circuit coupled to the input circuit and the shifter separately, wherein the regulation circuit is configured to regulate a first control signal output by the shifter in response to the first input signal, wherein a voltage domain of the shifter is different from a voltage domain of the input circuit; and the output circuit is configured to output a second level signal in response to the regulated first control signal, wherein a voltage level of the second level signal is higher than a voltage level of the first level signal.