Selective Overdrive of Primary Switch Supply Voltage for Memory Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory sub-systems face challenges in providing adequate overdrive voltage to primary switches for programming memory cells, leading to programming glitches and unreliable program pulses due to limited granular overdrive and noise ripple in supply voltage.
Innovation Solution
A memory device with a local media controller incorporating a linear regulator and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to generate a regulated voltage, using closed-loop feedback and programmable offset values to adjust the supply voltage, ensuring adequate overdrive and noise rejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional voltage supply is used for programming memory cells, then device complexity is reduced, but programming reliability deteriorates due to inadequate overdrive voltage and noise ripple
Solution Approach 1:
A linear regulator is introduced as an intermediary component between the voltage supply and the memory cell programming circuitry. The regulator includes a primary switch with selective overdrive capability and noise rejection functionality, filtering out noise ripple while providing adequate overdrive voltage to ensure reliable programming without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the overdrive voltage parameter of the primary switch based on operating conditions such as temperature and process variations. By changing the voltage parameter adaptively, the system maintains programming reliability across different conditions while avoiding the need for overly complex fixed-voltage circuitry
2Productivity
If fixed supply voltage is used, then device complexity is minimized, but programming performance deteriorates due to inability to account for temperature and body effect mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The linear regulator incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the actual voltage delivered to the memory cells and adjust the primary switch overdrive accordingly. This feedback loop compensates for temperature drift and body effect mismatches, improving programming performance while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through integrated control
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed voltage supply to a dynamic voltage regulation system where the overdrive voltage of the primary switch is continuously adjusted based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic adaptation enhances programming performance by accounting for environmental variations without requiring excessive circuit complexity
3Reliability
If higher overdrive voltage is always applied, then programming reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of always applying maximum overdrive voltage, the linear regulator provides partial overdrive only when and where needed during the programming operation. The regulator applies overdrive voltage selectively to the primary switch during critical programming phases while reducing or eliminating overdrive during non-critical periods, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overall power consumption
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 solution provides highly granular and trimmable overdrive for the supply voltage, improves power supply rejection ratio, and enhances programming performance by dynamically adjusting the voltage to account for temperature and body effect mismatches.
Implementation Method 1
A linear regulator is to generate a regulated voltage based on closed-loop feedback
Implementation Method 2
A digital-to-analog converter is to provide a control voltage to the operational amplifier based on a digital input value
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit includes a linear regulator coupled with a memory array and a pump regulator coupled with a charge pump, the charge pump to provide a supply voltage to the linear regulator. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) has an output coupled with the pump regulator. Control logic is coupled with the DAC and is to perform operations including causing a digital input value to be provided to the DAC to selectively adjust the supply voltage based on a programmable offset value.