Power-Up Signal Circuit for Voltage Drop Reset Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power-up signal generation circuits in semiconductor memory devices reset the device even when internal voltages are temporarily lowered during high-current-consuming operations, leading to unnecessary resets and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A power-up signal generation circuit that includes a first section signal generation unit to sense external and internal voltages, a second section signal generation unit to buffer the signal when the internal voltage drops below a minimum level, and a selective output unit to output the appropriate power-up signal based on the select signal, preventing resets during voltage fluctuations between the power-up level and the minimum level, and enabling resets only when the internal voltage falls below the minimum level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power-up signal generation circuit resets the device when internal voltage drops below the power-up level, then the device can be reset when voltage is insufficient, but unnecessary resets occur during high-current-consuming operations causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The power-up signal generation circuit is divided into multiple sections: a first section that generates signals based on power-up level detection, and a second section that generates signals based on minimum level detection. A select signal generation unit chooses which section's output to use, segmenting the reset decision logic to prevent unnecessary resets during high-current operations while maintaining reliability when voltage is truly insufficient
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit dynamically adjusts its behavior based on operational context by generating a select signal that switches between two different detection thresholds. During normal operation, the circuit uses the power-up level threshold for reliable reset detection, while during high-current-consuming operations, it switches to the minimum level threshold to avoid unnecessary resets, making the reset behavior adaptive rather than static
2Device complexity
If the circuit uses a fixed power-up level threshold for reset detection, then reset logic is simple, but it cannot distinguish between temporary voltage drops during operation and actual power-up failures
Solution Approach 1:
A select signal generation unit acts as an intermediary between the two voltage detection paths. It receives inputs indicating the operational state and generates a control signal that selects which detection threshold (power-up level or minimum level) should be active. This intermediary component allows the circuit to maintain relatively simple logic in each detection path while achieving reliable differentiation between temporary voltage drops and actual power-up failures through contextual selection
Data Source
AI summary
A power-up signal generation circuit includes: a first section signal generation unit configured to sense a level of an external voltage and a level of an internal voltage and generate a first section signal; a second section signal generation unit configured to output a second section signal by buffering the first section signal when the internal voltage is lowered to below a minimum level; and a selective output unit configured to output the first section signal as a power-up signal, wherein the selective output unit outputs the second section signal as the power-up signal when a power-up section is ended and a mode register setting operation is performed.