Semiconductor Clock and Voltage Sharing via DC-DC Converter
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved semiconductor devices and systems that can efficiently share clock and voltage supply signals between components, reducing component count and cost, while being independent of optional features.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a first semiconductor device detects power and provides an external clock enable input to a second device, using a DC-DC converter to generate voltage signals, allowing the second device to provide an external clock signal back to the first device, thereby reducing the need for internal components like crystal oscillators and batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each semiconductor device has its own internal clock and power supply components, then each device operates independently and reliably, but the component count and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock generation function and power supply function from individual device internals into shared external components. Specifically, an external crystal oscillator provides clock signals to multiple semiconductor devices, and a single battery with power management circuitry supplies power to multiple devices, thereby reducing overall component count while maintaining operational reliability through centralized resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The external crystal oscillator and battery serve multiple semiconductor devices simultaneously, making these components universal resources for the system. The clock distribution circuitry and power management system are designed to serve multiple devices with different functional requirements (MP3 playback, FM radio, AM radio), allowing a single instance of each resource to support diverse operational modes across the device family.
2Device complexity
If a common base product is used for multiple device variants, then manufacturing cost and component count are reduced, but adaptability to optional features decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic resource allocation where semiconductor devices can be selectively enabled or disabled based on the specific product configuration. The power management circuitry dynamically controls power distribution to different functional blocks (MP3 decoder, FM receiver, AM receiver) depending on which features are present in a given device variant, allowing a common base product to adapt to different feature sets without requiring all components to be permanently instantiated.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor system is segmented into modular functional blocks that can be independently enabled or disabled. Each functional block (MP3 processing, FM radio, AM radio) can be selectively included or excluded from the final product configuration, allowing manufacturers to create customized device variants from a common base platform without requiring complete feature sets in all devices.
3Reliability
If internal crystal oscillators are used in each device, then clock signals are generated locally without dependency on external components, but system cost and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the crystal oscillator resource from multiple individual devices into a single shared external component. The external crystal oscillator generates a master clock signal that is distributed to multiple semiconductor devices through clock distribution circuitry, eliminating the need for separate crystal oscillators in each device and thereby reducing system cost and component count while maintaining reliable clock signal generation for all devices.
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 component count and cost by enabling the sharing of clock and voltage signals, making the system adaptable and independent of optional features, thus enhancing the functionality and efficiency of semiconductor devices.
Implementation Method 1
The first device includes an internal clock that is provided to a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter circuit to generate voltage signals
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first semiconductor device, a second semiconductor device, and an external crystal oscillator. The first semiconductor device includes a source voltage output and an external pin input. The first semiconductor device includes a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converter circuit that provides the source voltage output. The second semiconductor device includes a source voltage input that is coupled to the source voltage output of the first semiconductor device and includes a clock signal output. The external crystal oscillator is coupled via an input of the second semiconductor device to a first oscillator clock generation circuit.