Power-Supply Voltage Sensing Device for Rapid Target Level Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voltage stability in semiconductor ICs is challenging due to variations in external power-supply voltage, fabrication process deviations, and temperature changes, leading to lengthy and cost-inefficient voltage sweep tests to detect target voltage levels.

Innovation Solution

A power-supply voltage sensing device comprising a reference voltage trimming unit, a power-supply voltage detection unit, and a reference voltage control unit that trim and compare external power-supply voltage with a reference voltage, allowing for rapid detection of target voltage levels without sweeping through various voltage levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If voltage sweep test is performed to detect target voltage level, then measurement accuracy is improved, but test time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget voltage level detection accuracyVSAvoidtest time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calibrating the voltage detection circuit during manufacturing to establish a correspondence between detection signals and specific voltage levels. This calibration data is stored in a lookup table, allowing the device to directly determine target voltage levels without performing time-consuming sweep tests during actual operation. The calibration is performed once beforehand, enabling rapid voltage level identification during testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical voltage sweep process with an electronic lookup table system. Instead of physically sweeping through voltage levels and measuring responses, the system uses a pre-populated lookup table that maps detection signals to voltage levels. This substitution of mechanical sweeping with electronic data retrieval dramatically reduces test time while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If reference voltage generation circuit is used to maintain internal voltages, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal voltage stabilityVSAvoidreference voltage generation circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by designing a reference voltage generation circuit that automatically adjusts internal voltages based on external power-supply voltage changes without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. The circuit self-calibrates using pre-stored calibration data and automatically maintains stable internal voltages, reducing the need for additional complex voltage regulation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by storing multiple calibration data sets corresponding to different external power-supply voltage levels. The reference voltage generation circuit selects and applies the appropriate calibration parameters based on the current power-supply conditions, enabling automatic adaptation to voltage variations without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If voltage sweep test is performed under harsh conditions, then defect detection capability is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefect detection capabilityVSAvoidproduction throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calibrating the voltage detection system during manufacturing to establish accurate voltage level mappings. This preliminary calibration enables rapid voltage level determination during production testing, allowing defects to be detected under harsh voltage conditions without requiring time-consuming voltage sweep tests, thereby maintaining high defect detection capability while improving production throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical voltage sweep testing process with an electronic lookup table-based detection system. This substitution eliminates the need to physically sweep through voltage levels during production testing, enabling rapid defect detection under harsh conditions and significantly improving productivity while maintaining reliable defect detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9910072B2Power-supply voltage sensing device

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A power-supply voltage sensing device is disclosed, which relates to a technology for detecting a level of an external power-supply voltage during a test mode. The power-supply voltage sensing device includes a reference voltage trimming unit configured to trim a reference voltage in response to a code signal, a power-supply voltage detection unit configured to select one of a power-supply voltage and an external power-supply voltage in response to a test signal, compare the external power-supply voltage with the reference voltage, and output a detection signal according to the result of comparison, and a reference voltage control unit configured to output the code signal in response to the detection signal.