Voltage Pump Stage Switching for 3D NAND Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in managing power efficiency, which affects their performance and associated systems, particularly in non-volatile memory devices like NAND flash memory devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a voltage pump with a series of pump stages and a pump switch circuit, coupled with a voltage detector and control circuit, to selectively use a corresponding number of pump stages based on input voltage and target voltage requirements, and utilizing an additional voltage pin to minimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If all pump stages are used to generate the required voltage, then the target voltage can be achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage pump is divided into multiple pump stages that can be independently controlled. The pump switch circuit selectively activates only the necessary number of pump stages based on the input voltage level and target voltage requirement, rather than always using all stages. This segmentation allows the system to achieve the required output voltage with minimal power consumption by using only the necessary pump stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active pump stages based on real-time voltage conditions. The control circuit monitors the input voltage and determines the appropriate number of pump stages needed to achieve the target voltage, making the system adaptable to different operating conditions and minimizing power consumption in each scenario.
2Device complexity
If a fixed number of pump stages are used, then the circuit design is simpler, but power efficiency cannot be optimized for different operations
Solution Approach 1:
The pump switch circuit introduces dynamic control capability that adjusts the number of active pump stages based on operational requirements. This dynamic adjustment mechanism, while adding some circuit complexity, enables significant power efficiency improvements by matching the pump stage configuration to the specific voltage conversion needs of each operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of pump stage activation based on input voltage levels and target voltage requirements. By varying which pump stages are active, the system optimizes power efficiency for different operations without requiring a completely different circuit design for each scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the voltage pump always uses the same input voltage, then the power supply management is simpler, but it cannot adapt to different voltage requirements for different operations
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage pump system is designed to handle multiple voltage conversion scenarios using the same hardware infrastructure. By incorporating a pump switch circuit that can selectively activate different pump stages, the system provides universal functionality for various voltage requirements across different operations, eliminating the need for separate voltage generation circuits for each operation type.
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
This approach enhances power efficiency by reducing the number of pump stages used, allowing for different power levels for various operations, thereby improving the performance and reducing power consumption in semiconductor devices.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage pump having an input, an output, and a series of pump stages coupled between the input and the output
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, methods, and circuits for managing power supply in semiconductor devices are provided. The semiconductor devices can include 3D NAND flash memory devices with high capacity and/or high performance. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes: a voltage pump, a pump switch circuit configured to be coupled to the voltage pump, and an interface including a voltage pin coupled to the pump switch circuit. The voltage pump has an input, an output, and a series of pump stages coupled between the input and the output. The pump switch circuit is configured to provide an input voltage received at the voltage pin to a corresponding node in the voltage pump to select a corresponding number of pump stages of the series of pump stages to output a target voltage at the output of the voltage pump.