Ring Oscillator Supply Regulation for Process and Temperature Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ring oscillators are sensitive to supply voltage variations due to process and temperature changes, leading to unstable output frequencies and high power consumption in existing voltage regulation methods, which result in low power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and increased jitter.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a regulator device capable of adjusting the number of inverter stages and body bias voltages to maintain a constant supply voltage, using a reference voltage and error amplifier to refine adjustments, thereby reducing power consumption and stabilizing the oscillation frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing voltage regulation methods are used to maintain stable ring oscillator frequency, then frequency stability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the ring oscillator by adjusting body bias voltages of transistors in response to supply voltage variations. This allows the oscillator to maintain stable frequency without requiring high-power active regulation, thereby resolving the contradiction between frequency stability and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-adjustment mechanisms where the ring oscillator automatically compensates for supply voltage variations through body bias adjustment. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external high-power regulation circuits, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining frequency stability
2Reliability
If existing voltage regulation methods are used to maintain stable ring oscillator frequency, then frequency stability is improved, but power supply rejection ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts body bias voltages as a function of supply voltage to compensate for PSRR degradation. By dynamically changing the bias parameters, the system maintains frequency stability even when power supply rejection is poor, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters
3Reliability
If existing voltage regulation methods are used to maintain stable ring oscillator frequency, then frequency stability is improved, but jitter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes body bias voltage parameters to reduce jitter while maintaining frequency stability. By carefully selecting and adjusting bias parameters, the system achieves stable operation with minimized timing variations, resolving the contradiction between frequency stability and jitter
4Speed
If the number of inverter stages is increased to achieve target frequency, then output frequency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses body bias voltage adjustment to fine-tune the oscillation frequency without changing the number of inverter stages. This parameter-based approach achieves the desired output frequency while maintaining a compact, simple circuit structure, resolving the contradiction between frequency and device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for regulating supply voltage is described. In an example, a device can receive unregulated supply. The device can be connected to a ring oscillator and an integrated circuit. The device can be configured to regulate the unregulated supply to a first voltage. The device can be further configured to provide the regulated supply to the ring oscillator, where the ring oscillator operates with the regulated supply. The device can be further configured to, in response to a change in the regulated supply from the first voltage to a second voltage, adjust the changed regulated supply to return to the first voltage to cause the ring oscillator to operate with a constant regulated supply having the first voltage.