Voltage Generation Circuit Overvoltage Prevention Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical voltage generation circuits in memory devices can generate overvoltage, leading to increased stress and degradation of the memory device and associated systems, which affects performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A voltage generation circuit with an overvoltage prevention feature, comprising a main code table, a main voltage generator, a trimming module, a trimming code table, a code determination module, and an operation voltage generator, which compares and adjusts voltages to prevent overvoltage generation by selecting between trimming and substitute codes based on validity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a trimming code table is used to compensate for voltage variations, then voltage precision is improved, but overvoltage may occur when an abnormal code is generated, leading to increased stress and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by validating the trimming code before it is used to generate the operation voltage. The code determination module checks whether the trimming code from the trimming code table is valid (within the predetermined voltage range) before allowing it to be used. This preventive check ensures that abnormal codes that could cause overvoltage are identified and replaced with substitute codes before they can harm the system, thus maintaining voltage precision while preventing reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the code determination module - that acts as a mediator between the trimming code table and the operation voltage generator. This intermediary validates the trimming code and decides whether to use it or replace it with a substitute code. This intermediary layer prevents harmful abnormal codes from reaching the voltage generation stage while still allowing valid trimming codes to improve voltage precision, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the trimming code is always used to adjust the main voltage, then voltage accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the voltage generation circuit increases due to additional validation and substitution mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the code determination process selective rather than universal. The code determination module only performs validation and substitution when the trimming code is abnormal or invalid. For valid trimming codes, the system uses them directly without additional processing. This localized application of validation logic minimizes the complexity impact while maintaining voltage accuracy where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter state of the code handling process by introducing a validity check parameter. The code determination module evaluates the trimming code against a predetermined range parameter, and based on this parameter evaluation, either uses the original code or substitutes it. This parameter-based approach allows the system to maintain simplicity for normal operations while providing enhanced accuracy control only when necessary, thus balancing accuracy improvement with complexity management.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage generation circuit may include: a main code table suitable for outputting a main code based on an operation signal; a main voltage generator suitable for generating a main voltage corresponding to the main code; a trimming module suitable for comparing the main voltage with a target voltage to output a trimming signal; a trimming code table suitable for outputting a trimming code corresponding to the trimming signal; a code determination module suitable for outputting the main code and the trimming code when the trimming code is determined to be valid, and outputting the main code and a output code when the trimming code is determined to be invalid; and an operation voltage generator suitable for outputting an operation voltage based on the main code and a code selected from the trimming code and the substitute code.