Selective Charge Pump Circuit for Low-Current Memory Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pump circuits in semiconductor memory devices consume excessive current due to the operation of all charge pumps, even when generating low voltages, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A pump circuit with clock control circuits, charge pumps, and switching circuits that selectively drive charge pumps based on the required voltage level, using pump-off signals and clock enable signals to manage the operation of high voltage generation circuits and reduce unnecessary current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If all charge pumps operate to generate high voltage, then the required voltage level is achieved, but current consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The pump circuit is divided into multiple independent charge pumps (first charge pump, second charge pump, third charge pump) that can be selectively activated. Each charge pump corresponds to a specific voltage level requirement, allowing the system to segment the voltage generation task and activate only the necessary segments rather than running all charge pumps continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which charge pumps are active based on the required voltage level. Control circuits generate pump-off signals that dynamically disable unnecessary charge pumps when lower voltage levels are sufficient, making the system adaptable to varying power requirements rather than operating in a static all-or-nothing mode.
2Reliability
If all charge pumps are activated to ensure sufficient voltage output, then voltage reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by activating only the minimum number of charge pumps necessary to achieve the required voltage level. Instead of excessively activating all charge pumps regardless of need, the control system determines the exact voltage requirement and activates only the corresponding subset of charge pumps, avoiding both insufficient and excessive action.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit automatically monitors voltage requirements and self-regulates which charge pumps should be active. The system serves itself by generating pump-off signals based on actual voltage needs, eliminating the need for external control and ensuring that voltage reliability is maintained while minimizing power consumption autonomously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces power consumption by selectively operating charge pumps, ensuring that only necessary high voltage generation circuits are active, thereby minimizing current consumption and optimizing power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of charge pumps configured to generate respective high voltages by performing respective pumping operations in response to respective clock signals of the output terminals
Data Source
AI summary
A pump circuit includes a plurality of clock control circuits configured to transfer a clock to respective output terminals in response to respective pump-off signals or block the clock from being transferred to the respective output terminals, a plurality of charge pumps configured to generate respective high voltages by performing respective pumping operations in response to respective clock signals of the output terminals, and a plurality of switching circuits configured to transfer the respective high voltages to a final output terminal in response to respective control signals.