Switchable-Input Comparator for Accurate Memory Supply Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated circuits face inaccuracies in power supply voltage selection due to comparator offset voltages, leading to under-voltage conditions and performance issues in memory operations.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with a power supply multiplexer and a controller that includes a comparator stage with switched input terminals, allowing the controller to control the power supply multiplexer to select between core and memory domain power supply voltages based on comparator output signals, effectively mitigating the impact of offset voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a power supply multiplexer is used to select between core domain power supply voltage and memory domain power supply voltage, then power consumption is reduced in low-performance modes, but comparator offset voltages cause selection inaccuracies leading to under-voltage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the comparator configuration changeable through switching mechanisms. The comparator can dynamically switch between different input terminal configurations (first configuration and second configuration) depending on the operating mode, allowing the system to adapt to different voltage comparison scenarios and eliminate offset voltage errors dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the comparator's internal parameters by switching its input terminal connections. By altering which voltage rails are connected to which input terminals (V1 to first input or second input, V2 to the other input), the system modifies the comparator's operational parameters to compensate for offset voltages and ensure accurate voltage selection.
2Loss of energy
If the core domain power supply voltage is reduced for low-performance modes, then power consumption decreases, but the memory may malfunction if the voltage drops below minimum requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the power supply voltage levels and using the comparator to determine when switching between voltage sources is necessary. The comparator's output feeds back to the power supply multiplexer control, ensuring that the memory always receives adequate voltage by selecting from the core domain power supply when it meets minimum requirements or switching to the memory domain power supply when it does not.
3Device complexity
If the comparator stage uses fixed input terminal connections, then the circuit design is simpler, but offset voltages cause inaccurate voltage comparison and incorrect power supply selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static comparator into a dynamic one by introducing switching mechanisms that can reconfigure the input terminal connections. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the comparator to adapt to different voltage scenarios, improving measurement precision without permanently increasing circuit complexity, as the switching adds only controllable flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the comparator's input connections into switchable paths, where each input terminal can be independently connected to different voltage rails based on operational requirements. This segmentation allows the system to divide the voltage comparison task into multiple configurable scenarios, improving accuracy by selecting the appropriate connection configuration for each situation.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit is disclosed that includes a power supply multiplexer for selecting between a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage to provide a selected power supply voltage to a memory. A controller includes a comparator stage having a comparator with switchable inputs so that the comparator stage may control a binary state of a first output signal responsive to whether the first power supply voltage is greater than the second power supply voltage plus a voltage offset of the comparator. Similarly, the comparator stage may control a binary state of a second output signal responsive to whether the first power supply voltage is greater than the second power supply voltage minus the voltage offset. The controller controls the selection by the power supply multiplexer responsive to the binary states of the first and second output signals.