Wide-Range IC I/O Circuit with Mode-Selected Voltage Domains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IC designs face challenges in operating across a wide range of voltage supplies while maintaining reliability, timing performance, and compatibility with different supply domain interfaces.
Innovation Solution
The IC device incorporates an I/O module with separate circuit portions for high voltage and low voltage mode operations, enabled by a mode select signal. This module includes transmit and receive path circuits that convert data signals between the core voltage domain and either a first or second voltage domain, ensuring operation across a broad voltage range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single circuit design is used for I/O operations, then device complexity is reduced, but the device cannot operate reliably across a wide range of voltage supplies (1.08V-5.5V)
Solution Approach 1:
The I/O module is divided into separate high voltage circuit portions and low voltage circuit portions. Each portion is optimized for specific voltage ranges, allowing the device to operate reliably across 1.08V-5.5V supplies. The segmentation enables voltage-compatible operation with different supply domain interfaces without requiring a completely redundant design for each voltage level.
Solution Approach 2:
A mode select signal dynamically switches between high voltage and low voltage circuit portions based on the supply voltage domain. This dynamic selection allows the same I/O module to adapt to different voltage conditions (1.08V, 1.8V, 3.3V, 5.5V) while maintaining timing performance and reliability criteria across the entire voltage range.
2Reliability
If separate high voltage and low voltage circuit portions are implemented, then reliability across wide voltage range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The I/O module is designed with universal functionality across voltage domains. The same transmit path and receive path circuits can operate at 1.08V, 1.8V, 3.3V, and 5.5V by selecting the appropriate voltage-optimized portion. This multi-functionality ensures consistent timing performance and reliability criteria are met across all voltage supplies without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each voltage level.
Solution Approach 2:
A mode select signal dynamically switches between high voltage and low voltage circuit portions based on the supply voltage domain. This dynamic selection allows the same I/O module to adapt to different voltage conditions (1.08V, 1.8V, 3.3V, 5.5V) while maintaining timing performance and reliability criteria across the entire voltage range.
3Adaptability or versatility
If voltage domain conversion is implemented for wide-range I/O operation, then adaptability to different supply domains is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The I/O module is divided into separate high voltage circuit portions and low voltage circuit portions. Each portion is optimized for specific voltage ranges, allowing the device to operate reliably across 1.08V-5.5V supplies. The segmentation enables voltage-compatible operation with different supply domain interfaces without requiring a completely redundant design for each voltage level.
Solution Approach 2:
The I/O module is designed with universal functionality across voltage domains. The same transmit path and receive path circuits can operate at 1.08V, 1.8V, 3.3V, and 5.5V by selecting the appropriate voltage-optimized portion. This multi-functionality ensures consistent timing performance and reliability criteria are met across all voltage supplies without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each voltage level.
Data Source
AI summary
An I/O module configured to operate over a range of voltage supplies includes a transmit path circuit and a receive path circuit that are each configured to convert a data signal between a core voltage domain and one of a first voltage domain (e.g., a high voltage domain) and a second voltage domain (e.g., a low voltage domain) in response to a mode select signal.