On-Chip Supply Regulators for Digital and Analog Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit chips require multiple supply voltages for different circuit types, such as digital and analog circuits, which is typically addressed by off-chip supply regulators, increasing board complexity and pin count.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with on-chip supply regulators that include an initialization circuit, control circuit, and power supply regulator, allowing for programmable and adjustable voltage supply to digital and analog circuits, reducing the need for off-chip regulators and simplifying board design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If off-chip supply regulators are used to provide multiple supply voltages, then different voltage requirements for digital and analog circuits are met, but board complexity and pin count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple supply regulator functions onto a single integrated circuit chip. The control circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter, comparator, and error amplifier that work together with integrated transistors to generate multiple regulated voltage outputs (VDD1, VDD2, VDD3) from a single input voltage, eliminating the need for separate off-chip regulators and reducing board complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If off-chip supply regulators are used to provide multiple supply voltages, then different voltage requirements for digital and analog circuits are met, but pin count increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voltage regulation functions into a single integrated chip that provides three different regulated voltages (VDD1, VDD2, VDD3) through integrated control circuits and transistors, reducing the number of required external components and pin connections compared to using separate off-chip regulators.
3Productivity
If short channel length is used to reduce die size and increase speed, then integration level increases, but thin gate oxide thickness requires low power supply voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different voltage levels to different circuit blocks on the same chip. The control circuit generates multiple regulated voltages (VDD1, VDD2, VDD3) that can be selectively applied to digital and analog circuits based on their specific requirements, allowing short-channel digital circuits to operate at low voltages while analog circuits can use higher voltages for optimal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control through error amplifiers and feedback circuits that continuously adjust the output voltages based on load conditions and reference voltages. This allows the power supply voltage to be dynamically optimized for each circuit block, enabling low-voltage operation for high-speed digital circuits while maintaining higher voltages where needed for analog performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Integrated circuit chips with on-chip supply regulators with programmability and initialization. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, includes: an initialization circuit to assert an initialization signal during powering up of the integrated circuit; a control circuit coupled to the initialization circuit; and a power supply regulator coupled to the control circuit, the power supply regulator to provide a first voltage to the control circuit when the initialization signal is asserted, the power supply regulator to provide a second voltage to the control circuit according to a control signal from the control circuit when the initialization signal is not asserted. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes a digital television demodulator.