Semiconductor Initialization Circuit for Boot-Up Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices malfunction due to low levels of external power supply voltage signals during boot-up, leading to unstable operations and data storage in memory cells.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a boot-up operation circuit that generates a boot-up period signal, a sensing circuit to detect this signal and a clock enablement signal, and an initialization circuit that executes initialization operations in response, ensuring stable operation and data retention after the power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the semiconductor device starts operations while the external power supply voltage signal level is increasing, then the device can reduce boot-up time, but the device may malfunction due to low voltage level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by executing initialization operations during a dedicated boot-up operation period before the device enters normal operation mode. The boot-up operation circuit generates a boot-up period signal that enables initialization circuits to prepare internal circuits and stabilize data in memory cells before the device starts normal operations, ensuring reliability is established prior to full operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operation timeline into distinct phases: a boot-up operation period for initialization and a normal operation period for regular functions. The boot-up period signal divides the operational sequence, allowing the device to complete critical initialization tasks during the first phase before transitioning to the second phase, thus preventing malfunctions while managing boot-up time.
2Reliability
If the device waits for the power supply voltage to reach target level before starting operations, then operation stability is ensured, but boot-up time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The initialization circuits perform preliminary initialization operations during the boot-up operation period while the power supply voltage is stabilizing, rather than waiting for the voltage to reach target level before any operations occur. This parallel approach ensures operation stability is prepared in advance while reducing the perceived boot-up time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the operational state based on the power supply voltage level. The boot-up operation circuit monitors the voltage and generates appropriate control signals to enable initialization operations when voltage reaches a predetermined level, allowing the system to adapt its behavior dynamically rather than using fixed timing, thus optimizing both stability and time.
3Loss of time
If initialization operations are not performed, then boot-up time is reduced, but data stored in memory cells may have unstable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The initialization circuits perform preliminary stabilization operations on data stored in memory cells during the boot-up operation period. These operations ensure data levels are stabilized before the device enters normal operation mode, preventing data instability without requiring extended waiting time, as the initialization occurs parallel to voltage stabilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device may include a boot-up operation circuit configured for executing a boot-up operation during a boot-up operation period after a power supply voltage signal reaches a predetermined level. The boot-up operation circuit may be configured for generating a boot-up period signal. The boot-up period signal may be enabled during the boot-up operation period. The semiconductor device may include a sensing circuit configured for sensing the boot-up period signal and a clock enablement signal to generate a first detection signal and a second detection signal. The semiconductor device may include an initialization circuit configured for executing an initialization operation in response to the first and second detection signals. Related semiconductor systems may also be provided.