Integrated Voltage Regulator Feedback for 3DIC IR Drop Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Static IR drop in metal wires of power grids within integrated circuits leads to unsatisfactory performance, exacerbated by decreasing feature sizes and increasing number of integrated circuit dies in 3DICs.
Innovation Solution
An analog voltage regulator system that includes voltage sensors, a control circuit, current sensor, digital-to-analog converter, and comparator to generate a regulated output voltage based on feedback from integrated circuit modules, addressing voltage drops by adjusting the output voltage accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If feature sizes are decreased to improve integration density, then manufacturing precision is improved, but static IR drop increases due to higher resistance in thinner metal wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power delivery network into multiple voltage domains by integrating voltage regulators directly on the package substrate near individual IC dies. This segmentation allows each die to receive regulated voltage locally, reducing the current through inter-die power wires and thereby reducing IR drop in the metal interconnect layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voltage regulators as intermediary components between the power supply and the IC dies. These regulators act as mediators that convert a higher voltage to a lower regulated voltage, reducing the current required to deliver the same power to the dies, which in turn reduces IR drop in the power distribution network.
2Productivity
If the number of integrated circuit dies is increased to improve productivity, then output per unit time is improved, but static IR drop increases due to cumulative resistance across more dies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power delivery system by placing individual voltage regulators near each IC die or group of dies. This segmentation creates multiple independent power delivery paths, reducing the cumulative current through any single power wire and thereby reducing the cumulative IR drop across multiple dies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar power distribution to a three-dimensional stacked architecture with voltage regulators positioned in the vertical dimension between the power supply and the IC dies. This dimensional change allows for shorter current paths and reduced resistance in the power delivery network.
3Loss of energy
If a voltage regulator system is added to reduce static IR drop, then energy loss is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by integrating the voltage regulator functionality directly into the package substrate, allowing the system to self-regulate its own power delivery without requiring external voltage regulation. The regulators are automatically configured to provide appropriate voltage to each die based on local conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the voltage regulator functionality with the package substrate, combining multiple functions (power regulation, voltage conversion, and local power distribution) into a single integrated structure. This merging reduces the need for separate external voltage regulation components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes an analog voltage regulator and an integrated circuit module. The analog voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage. The integrated circuit module generates an analog sense voltage based on the regulated output voltage and includes integrated circuit dies, a first sensor, second sensors, and a digital voltage offset controller (DVOC). The first sensor generates a digital reference voltage based on an analog reference voltage. The second voltage sensors detect voltages at predetermined locations on the integrated circuit dies. The DVOC generates a digital offset voltage substantially equal to the difference between the digital reference voltage and the voltage detected by a selected one of the second voltage sensors. The regulated output voltage is based on an unregulated input voltage, the analog sense voltage, and the digital offset voltage.