Semiconductor Power Supply Noise Control via Preliminary Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply shutdown technologies in semiconductor integrated circuits face challenges in eliminating power supply noise due to rush currents and improving processing speed, leading to circuit malfunctions when transition times are shortened.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor integrated circuit design that includes a power supply potential detecting circuit and an operation control circuit to temporarily stop and recover the function of a second circuit block based on power supply state changes, along with a delay adjusting circuit to manage connection/disconnection times, ensuring accurate operation control and noise resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the power supply transition time is shortened to improve processing speed, then the system operation speed increases, but power supply noise due to rush current increases causing circuit malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation speedVSAvoidpower supply noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The operation control circuit performs preliminary actions by detecting power supply state changes before they affect the second circuit block, and proactively stops or starts the second circuit block in advance. This preliminary detection and control prevents rush current noise from affecting the operating circuit while enabling faster power supply transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply potential detecting circuit provides feedback about the power supply state to the operation control circuit, which then adjusts the operation of the second circuit block accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond to power supply changes dynamically, preventing noise-induced malfunctions while maintaining fast operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the power supply shutdown switch controls current flow to reduce noise, then power supply noise is reduced, but the transition time increases to several μs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply noiseVSAvoidtransition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The operation control circuit detects power supply state changes and controls the second circuit block in advance, before the power supply transition is complete. This allows the system to prepare for the transition and minimize the actual impact time, reducing the effective transition time from several μs to much shorter durations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The operation control circuit acts as an intermediary between the power supply shutdown switch and the second circuit block. It receives signals from the power supply state and mediates the effect on the second circuit block, coordinating the shutdown/switchover actions to minimize transition time while controlling noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If multiple circuit blocks repeatedly switch power supply on and off, then power consumption is reduced in non-operating blocks, but rush current and noise increase affecting operating circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidrush current

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply potential detecting circuit continuously monitors the power supply state and provides feedback to the operation control circuit. This enables the system to detect when power supply changes occur and coordinate the second circuit block's operation accordingly, preventing rush current effects on operating circuits while maintaining power savings from repeated switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The operation control circuit serves as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple circuit blocks undergoing power supply transitions. It ensures that when one block switches power supply, the second circuit block is appropriately controlled to minimize mutual interference and rush current effects, enabling safe repeated switching for power consumption reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8390146B2Semiconductor integrated circuit and various devices provided with the same

Publication Date: 2013.03.05 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

A power supply potential detecting circuit detects a power supply potential of a second circuit block when a first circuit block shifts from a power supply shutdown state to a power supply feeding state or shifts from the power supply feeding state to the power supply shutdown state. Then, an operation control circuit temporarily stops a function of the second circuit block when the first circuit block shifts from the power supply shutdown state to the power supply feeding state or shifts from the power supply feeding state to the power supply shutdown state and then recovers the function of the second circuit block based on a detection result outputted from the power supply potential detecting circuit.