Shared Body Biasing Control Circuit Using Lookup Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adaptive body biasing circuits for CMOS digital circuits are large in size, consume excessive power, and require significant time for biasing, making them unsuitable for small macro blocks in semiconductor chips, and necessitate multiple monitoring circuits for independent control of multiple macro blocks, leading to increased circuit overhead.
Innovation Solution
A body biasing control circuit utilizing a lookup table to store indexes for generating appropriate body voltages for macro blocks, with a control unit communicating with the lookup table to provide body voltages directly to macro blocks, allowing independent control of body voltages across multiple macro blocks without the need for extensive monitoring circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional adaptive body biasing circuit is used to compensate for threshold voltage nonuniformity, then manufacturing yield is improved, but the circuit size increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple monitoring circuits into a single shared monitoring circuit that can service multiple macro blocks. The monitoring circuit is shared across N macro blocks, eliminating the need for separate monitoring circuits for each block. This combining approach maintains threshold voltage compensation capability while reducing overall circuit size and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of monitoring and adjusting threshold voltages for multiple different macro blocks. The circuit can selectively monitor and adjust any of the N macro blocks, making it a universal solution that serves multiple purposes rather than requiring dedicated circuits for each block.
2Manufacturing precision
If a conventional adaptive body biasing circuit is used to compensate for threshold voltage changes, then manufacturing yield is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple monitoring circuits into a single shared monitoring circuit that can service multiple macro blocks. The monitoring circuit is shared across N macro blocks, eliminating the need for separate monitoring circuits for each block. This combining approach maintains threshold voltage compensation capability while reducing overall circuit size and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The body biasing control circuit automatically adjusts threshold voltages based on monitoring results without requiring external intervention. The circuit self-regulates by detecting threshold voltage deviations and applying appropriate bias adjustments, eliminating the need for continuous external control signals and reducing overall power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If separate monitoring circuits are used for each macro block to enable independent control, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple monitoring circuits into a single shared monitoring circuit that can service multiple macro blocks. The monitoring circuit is shared across N macro blocks, eliminating the need for separate monitoring circuits for each block. This combining approach maintains threshold voltage compensation capability while reducing overall circuit size and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring circuit is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, capable of selectively monitoring and adjusting different macro blocks as needed. The circuit can switch between monitoring different blocks and can adjust bias voltages for any selected block, providing dynamic control flexibility without requiring static dedicated circuits for each block.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If operating voltage is reduced to minimize power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but leakage current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the body voltage parameter of transistors to compensate for the effects of reduced operating voltage. By adjusting the body bias voltage, the threshold voltage of transistors is modified to maintain appropriate leakage current levels even when operating voltage is reduced. This parameter adjustment allows low-power operation while controlling harmful leakage effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact, power-efficient body biasing control circuit that can be shared among multiple macro blocks, reducing the time required for biasing and eliminating the need for extensive monitoring circuits, thus improving semiconductor manufacturing yield and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
If a reverse bias voltage is applied between the body terminal B and the source terminal S, a threshold voltage increases which causes the speed of the CMOS circuit to decrease thereby reducing the leakage current. If a forward bias voltage is applied between the body terminal B and the source terminal S, the threshold voltage decreases which causes the speed of the CMOS circuit to decrease and the leakage current to be reduced.
Data Source
AI summary
A body biasing control circuit capable of being shared by a plurality of macro blocks and can independently control body voltages of a plurality of macro blocks. The body biasing control circuit includes a lookup table for storing a plurality of indexes where each index is associated with a body voltage appropriate for an operating state of a corresponding macro block. A control unit receives a corresponding index from the lookup table and generates a plurality of body voltages appropriate for an operating state of a macro block corresponding to the index and supplies the body voltages to the macro block.