Semiconductor Power Sequence Control for Responsive Rail Shutdown
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor devices face challenges in controlling power sources during power-off operations, leading to delayed shutdowns and poor responsiveness due to varying charge amounts, resistance, and external capacitance.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a power sequence controller that manages power-off operations by initiating the power-off of different power source groups at specific times based on voltage levels or reference times, ensuring efficient and responsive shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power-off control is performed following all the sequences as in a power-on operation, then power sources are discharged safely, but the power-off time becomes slower than the power-on time by dozens to several hundred times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides power sources into multiple groups (first power source group, second power source group, third power source group) and applies different discharge control strategies to each group. This segmentation allows simultaneous discharge of multiple power sources rather than sequential discharge, significantly reducing total power-off time while maintaining safety through controlled discharge sequences within each group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of power sources into different groups based on their characteristics (capacitance, resistance, charge amount) before the power-off operation begins. This preliminary action enables the system to optimize discharge sequences and timing for each group, allowing faster overall discharge while ensuring safe operation through pre-planned discharge control.
2Loss of time
If power sources are discharged simultaneously, then power-off time is reduced, but voltage levels decrease differently causing unpredictable discharge behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic discharge control where the discharge sequence and timing are adjusted based on real-time voltage levels and discharge progress. The controller monitors voltage changes and dynamically modifies the discharge sequence for different power source groups, enabling simultaneous discharge while maintaining predictable and controllable behavior through adaptive control strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors voltage levels of power sources during discharge and uses this information to adjust the discharge control signals. This feedback loop ensures that even with simultaneous discharge of multiple power sources, the system maintains predictable behavior by responding to actual voltage changes and preventing unsafe conditions.
3Reliability
If fine-level control is applied to all power sources during power-off, then discharge safety is improved, but the complexity of control increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces control complexity by segmenting power sources into groups with similar characteristics and applying group-level control strategies rather than individual control for each power source. This segmentation maintains discharge safety through controlled sequences within groups while significantly reducing the overall control complexity compared to fine-level control of every power source individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes control parameters by using different control strategies for different power source groups based on their characteristics. Instead of applying uniform fine-level control to all power sources, the system adjusts control parameters such as discharge timing, sequence, and timing intervals according to each group's properties, reducing complexity while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device and a power-off method of the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including a first power source group including first and second power sources, a second power source group including a third power source and a power sequence controller. The power sequence controller performs power-on operations and power-off operations of the first to third power sources. The power sequence controller starts a power-off operation of the first power source group at a first time, and starts a power-off operation of the second power source group when the power voltage of the first power source group becomes a first voltage or when a first reference time has passed from the first time.