Semiconductor Memory Voltage Pumping Cycle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semiconductor memory apparatuses face inefficiencies in generating pumping and bulk voltages due to increased external voltage levels, leading to excessive electric current consumption and reduced efficiency at lower voltage levels, as the number of pumping operations required to reach target voltages is affected by external voltage fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor memory apparatus that controls the cycle of oscillator signals based on the level of the driving voltage, using a driving voltage detecting unit to generate detection signals and adjust the pumping and bulk oscillator signals, thereby controlling the number of pumping operations and maintaining efficient voltage generation within predetermined abilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the external voltage level increases, then the pumping efficiency increases, but the driving ability of generated voltages exceeds the predetermined requirement causing unnecessary current consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the oscillator signal cycle variable rather than fixed. The driving voltage detecting unit monitors external voltage levels and dynamically adjusts the oscillator signal cycle accordingly. When external voltage increases, the cycle is extended to reduce pumping operations and prevent excessive driving ability; when external voltage decreases, the cycle is shortened to maintain adequate pumping efficiency. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between pumping efficiency and current consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of oscillator signal cycle based on external voltage levels. The driving voltage detecting unit generates detection signals that modify the oscillator cycle parameter in response to voltage variations. This parameter change allows the system to optimize pumping operations under different voltage conditions, preventing both excessive current consumption at high voltages and insufficient pumping efficiency at low voltages.
2Productivity
If the external voltage level decreases, then the pumping efficiency is reduced, but the driving ability of generated voltages falls below the predetermined requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the oscillator signal cycle in response to decreasing external voltage levels. When the driving voltage detecting unit detects reduced external voltage, it shortens the oscillator cycle to increase the frequency of pumping operations. This dynamic response ensures that adequate driving ability is maintained for generating pumping and bulk voltages even when external voltage is low, while avoiding excessive current consumption that would occur with a fixed short cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillator signal cycle parameter is changed based on external voltage detection. When external voltage decreases, the cycle is shortened to increase pumping frequency and maintain driving ability. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliability (adequate driving ability) and accepting reduced pumping efficiency under low voltage conditions.
3Device complexity
If the oscillator signal cycle is fixed, then the circuit complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to external voltage fluctuations causing inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a driving voltage detecting unit as an intermediary between the external voltage source and the oscillator signal generating circuit. This intermediary monitors external voltage levels and generates detection signals that modulate the oscillator cycle. This approach adds minimal complexity while enabling the system to adapt to voltage fluctuations, resolving the contradiction between simple fixed-cycle operation and adaptive variable-cycle operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor memory apparatus that generates a voltage by performing a pumping operation in response to an oscillator signal includes a driving voltage detecting unit configured to control the cycle of the oscillator signal in accordance with the level of a driving voltage that is used to perform the pumping operation.