Semiconductor Circuit Mask Register Standby Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor circuits face issues with unpredictable power transitions during standby mode, leading to current leakage and potential malfunctions due to transient signal fluctuations and capacitance differences, which existing designs fail to fully address.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor circuit design with a CPU-controllable mask register and a latch circuit that latches the low level of the mask signal, preventing unintended power supply transitions and ensuring reliable power-off states by masking input signals from the power-off area to the backup area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the power supply to the power-off area is switched off during standby state, then current consumption is reduced, but transient signals may be generated that cause unintended current draw or signals to the backup area
Solution Approach 1:
The mask signal is set to the low level (masking state) before the power supply to the power-off area is switched off. This preliminary action ensures that any transient signals generated during power transition are masked and cannot reach the backup area, preventing unintended current draw or signals while maintaining reliable power transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuit is configured to latch the low level of the mask signal, creating a preliminary protective state that prevents transient signals from affecting the backup area during power transitions. This anti-action counteracts the potential harmful effects of transient signals before they can cause problems.
2Reliability
If external masking signal is used to prevent transient signals during power transition, then signal integrity is maintained, but the circuit requires external control and cannot autonomously manage power states
Solution Approach 1:
The mask register in the power-off area is configured to autonomously set the mask signal to the low level when detecting that the power-off area is transitioning to standby state. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external control signals while maintaining reliable signal masking, allowing the circuit to autonomously manage its power states.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask register automatically sets the masking state before power transition occurs, creating a preliminary protective condition that ensures signal integrity during the transition without requiring external intervention. This preliminary action is triggered automatically by the power state change detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor circuit includes an integrated circuit having a backup area that is constantly powered and a power-off area that is powered off in a standby mode. A register in the power-off area stores a mask signal that is normally set to the high level but is changed to the low level before a transition to the standby mode. A latch circuit in the backup area latches the low level but not the high level of the mask signal. A masking circuit in the backup area masks input signals from the power-off area to the backup area while the latch circuit is in the latched state. Besides preventing erratic input to the backup area during normal-to-standby transitions, this arrangement prevents leakage of current from the backup area to the power-off area on the mask signal line in the standby mode.