Semiconductor Signal Timing Adjustment for Variable Voltage and Clock Modes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor memory devices face challenges in ensuring delay and margin between internal signals when powered by external power voltage directly, as the stability of this voltage is unpredictable, leading to potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor circuit that includes a voltage detector, frequency detector, and signal adjustment unit to detect external power voltage and main clock frequency, allowing for the selection of appropriate adjusting parameters to adjust signals, ensuring stable operation across different voltage and frequency modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the memory device is powered by the external power voltage directly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of signal delay and margin cannot be assured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic signal adjustment by detecting external power voltage levels and main clock frequencies, then selectively applying different delay parameters based on the detected operating conditions. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable signal timing margins across varying voltage and frequency conditions while maintaining direct external power connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes signal delay parameters based on detected voltage and frequency conditions. By selecting from multiple delay parameters corresponding to different operating regions, the system maintains reliable signal timing without requiring complex internal voltage regulation, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the external power voltage is used directly without internal voltage regulator, then the use of energy is reduced, but the stability of internal signals cannot be assured
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting its operating conditions (voltage level and clock frequency) and selecting appropriate delay parameters without external intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures signal stability across different operating conditions while eliminating the energy consumption of internal voltage regulators.
3Reliability
If multiple delay parameters are implemented for different voltage and frequency conditions, then the reliability of signal timing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes multiple delay parameters corresponding to different voltage and frequency operating regions before operation. During operation, the system simply detects the current conditions and selects the pre-configured appropriate parameter, avoiding complex real-time calculations or adjustments. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable signal timing while minimizing the complexity of the selection mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Semiconductor circuit capable of selecting a corresponding adjusting parameter to adjust the received signal according to different voltages and frequencies. A voltage detector detects a voltage level of an external power voltage to generate a voltage detection signal, a frequency detector detects frequency of a main clock to generate a frequency detection signal, and a signal adjustment unit receives a first signal and selects one of a plurality of different adjusting parameters to adjust the first signal according to the voltage detection signal and the frequency detection signal.