Pre-Charge Control Circuit for Stable Internal Voltage Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in generating stable internal voltages due to process variations, leading to defects and inconsistent logic value determination, necessitating a solution to adjust and stabilize the internal voltage levels accurately.
Innovation Solution
A pre-charge control circuit and voltage generation circuit that includes a voltage generation unit, pre-charge unit, and pre-charge control unit to generate and stabilize reference voltages by comparing sampling voltages with a reference voltage, using power supply voltages and control signals to rapidly set the reference voltage to the target level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the internal voltage is generated using process-dependent circuits, then the device complexity is reduced, but the voltage stability and accuracy deteriorate due to process variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the output node to the power supply voltage level before the voltage generation circuit begins its operation. This pre-charge action prepares the circuit in advance, ensuring that when the voltage generation starts, the output node is already in an optimal initial state, which accelerates the settling time and improves voltage stability without adding complex process-dependent circuits.
2Device complexity
If the reference voltage is generated without pre-charge, then the device complexity is reduced, but the settling time increases leading to slower operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-charge control circuit performs preliminary action by setting the output node voltage to the power supply voltage level before the voltage generation circuit operates. This advance preparation eliminates the initial charging delay, allowing the reference voltage to reach its target level faster and significantly reducing the settling time without requiring additional complex circuit structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If the output node is not pre-charged, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the reference voltage level accuracy deteriorates during transient states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-charging the output node to a known voltage level (power supply voltage) before the voltage generation circuit begins operation. This ensures that during transient states, the output node starts from a predictable and accurate voltage level, improving voltage level accuracy without complicating the manufacturing process, as the pre-charge function is integrated into the existing circuit architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage generation circuit includes a voltage generation unit configured to generate a reference voltage using a power supply voltage and output the reference voltage through a voltage output node. The voltage generation circuit also includes a pre-charge unit configured to drive the voltage output node using the power supply voltage in response to a pre-charge control signal. The voltage generation circuit further includes a pre-charge control unit configured to generate at least one sampling voltage using the power supply voltage and generate the pre-charge control signal according to a result obtained by comparing the at least one sampling voltage with the reference voltage.