Memory Die Feedback Pin for Supply Voltage Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In memory systems, the voltage on power supply rails can be attenuated at locations farther away from the power management component, potentially dropping below a minimum supply voltage, leading to errors in memory devices. The power management component lacks access to voltage information at various locations along the rail, limiting its ability to adjust the power supply accordingly.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated pin on each memory device provides feedback to the power management component about the voltage level of the power supply rail, enabling the component to adjust the voltage appropriately. This feedback can be in the form of different voltage levels or transitions at the pin, indicating whether the supply voltage is within or outside a target range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If power supply rail is extended to distant memory devices, then memory devices can be placed farther from power management component, but voltage drops below minimum level due to parasitic capacitance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the memory device monitors the supply voltage level and communicates this information back to the power management component through a feedback pin. The memory device transitions the feedback pin between different voltage levels (e.g., high voltage indicating voltage within target range, low voltage indicating voltage below target range) to signal the power management component about the actual voltage conditions at the memory device location. This enables the power management component to adjust the power supply in real-time to maintain stable voltage despite the extended distance and parasitic capacitance effects.
2Length of stationary object
If power supply rail is extended, then memory devices can be placed farther away, but parasitic capacitance causes voltage attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism allows the memory device to detect voltage attenuation caused by parasitic capacitance in the extended power supply rail and communicate this condition to the power management component. Based on the feedback signal indicating voltage levels at the distant memory device, the power management component can compensate for the energy loss by adjusting the power supply output, thereby maintaining adequate voltage levels despite the long rail length and parasitic capacitance effects.
3Use of energy by moving object
If supply voltage drops below minimum level, then power consumption may be reduced, but errors occur in memory operations
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism prevents memory operation errors by continuously monitoring the supply voltage at the memory device and communicating this information to the power management component. When the voltage approaches or drops below the minimum required level, the feedback signal alerts the power management component to increase the power supply output, thereby maintaining voltage within the acceptable operating range and preventing errors, while avoiding unnecessary power consumption when voltage is already within target range.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device may include a pin for communicating feedback regarding a supply voltage to a power management component, such as a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). The memory device may bias the pin to a first voltage indicating that a supply voltage is within a target range. The memory device may subsequently determine that a supply voltage is outside the target range and transition the voltage at the pin from the first voltage to a second voltage indicating that the supply voltage is outside the target range. The memory device may select the second voltage based on whether the supply voltage is above or below the target range.