Semiconductor Pad Control Circuit for Power-Off Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Leakage currents occur at the interface of slave chips in a power-off mode due to unintentional activation of control signals in semiconductor devices, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of pull-down drivers and leakage prevention drivers, controlled by control and leakage prevention signals, to selectively deactivate signals in power-off mode, and grounding circuits to manage logic levels, preventing leakage currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control signals are left active in power-off mode, then signal transmission capability is maintained, but leakage currents occur causing energy loss and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The leakage prevention driver is activated in advance during power-off mode to forcibly deactivate control signals before leakage currents can occur. This preliminary action ensures that even if control signals unintentionally remain active, they are immediately suppressed, preventing energy loss and potential damage to the slave chip interface.
2Loss of energy
If leakage prevention drivers are added to forcibly deactivate control signals, then leakage currents are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leakage prevention driver acts as an intermediary component between the control signal source and the interface circuitry. It mediates by monitoring the power mode and automatically deactivating control signals during power-off mode, thereby preventing leakage currents without requiring changes to the existing interface architecture or control logic.
3Loss of energy
If control signals are deactivated in power-off mode, then leakage currents are prevented, but signal transmission capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the state of control signals based on power mode. During power-on mode, control signals remain active to enable normal signal transmission and communication. During power-off mode, the leakage prevention driver automatically deactivates control signals to prevent leakage currents. This dynamic adaptation ensures optimal performance in each operating state without compromising overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including a first pad, a pull-up resistor connected between the first pad and a supply terminal of a high voltage, a second pad connected to the first pad, a pull-down driver connected between the second pad and a supply terminal of a low voltage, and suitable for selectively driving the second pad with the low voltage based on a control signal corresponding to a predetermined signal, a first leakage prevention driver connected between an input terminal of the control signal and the supply terminal of the low voltage, and suitable for selectively driving the control signal with the low voltage based on a leakage prevention signal, and a controller connected to the second pad, and suitable for generating the leakage prevention signal based on a mode signal and a tie control signal.