The present invention generally relates to the field of integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to a circuit and a method of facilitating the power-up of an integrated circuit having multiple circuit blocks and/or segments, such as analog and digital logic circuit blocks and/or segments.
Since the development and fabrication of the first integrated circuit (“C”), also know as a “microchip,” back in the early 1970, integrated circuits have become essential components in also every device, product and system produced by the human race. As the number of applications for integrated circuits has increased (ranging form computing and control systems, analog and digital signal conditioning and processing, and data storage), so has their complexity. Because of their complexity, modern day integrated circuits, such as the non-volatile memory (“NVM”) integrated circuit shown in
The NVM circuit shown in
Turning now to
Because a bandgap circuit 250, such as the one shown in
There is a need in the field of IC design for a power-up circuit and method to provide a relatively accurate reference voltage and/or to facilitate circuit/circuit-block enabling signals.
The present invention is a circuit and method for providing a reference voltage and/or one or more circuit/circuit-block enabling signals for an IC. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the voltage level VDD of an IC's power supply line may transition from a floating or close-to-zero voltage to an operating voltage level (e.g. 1.8 Volts) when an external power source is applied through connectors to the supply line. As the voltage level on the power supply line ramps upward towards or above a nominal operating voltage, a first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may be activated and may begin to generate a bandgap reset signal once the voltage level of the power supply reaches a first threshold voltage level. The bandgap reset signal may trigger the power-up and operation of a bandgap reference circuit segment, and according to further embodiments of the present invention, a second threshold voltage detector circuit segment, which second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may be matched with the first voltage detector circuit, may generate a voltage reset signal indicating that the bandgap reference source is powering-up.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, once the IC power supply line reaches a second threshold voltage level, the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may disable the bandgap-reset signal. When the power supply line voltage level reaches a third threshold voltage level, which third threshold voltage level may be correlated to the output voltage level of the bandgap circuit output, the second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may either disable or otherwise modulate the voltage reset signal so as to indicate that the bandgap reference circuit is operating and providing a substantially stable reference voltage (e.g. 1.2 Volts).
The second threshold voltage level may be nearly or substantially equal to the output voltage of the bandgap reference (e.g. 1.2 Volts). According to some embodiments of the present invention, the third threshold voltage level may either be substantially equal to the second threshold voltage level or may be equal to the bandgap reference voltage output (e.g. 1.2 Volts) plus some voltage margin (e.g. 0.3 Volts).
According to further embodiments of the present invention, if the voltage level on the IC power supply line falls below the third threshold voltage level, the second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may modulate the voltage reset signal to indicate that the output of the bandgap reference circuit may be below its defined output voltage level, and the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may again produce a bandgap reset signal.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the voltage reset signal generated by the second voltage threshold detector circuit segment may enable the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment to generate a bandgap reset signal.
The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following non limiting detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of these non-limiting illustrations, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
The present invention is a circuit and method for providing a reference voltage and/or one or more circuit/circuit-block enabling signals for an IC. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the voltage level VDD of an IC's power supply line may transition from a floating or close-to-zero voltage to an operating voltage level (e.g. 1.8 Volts) when an external power source is applied through connectors to the supply line. As the voltage level on the power supply line ramps upward towards or above a nominal operating voltage, a first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may be activated and may begin to generate a bandgap reset signal once the voltage level of the power supply reaches a first threshold voltage level. The bandgap reset signal may trigger the power-up and operation of a bandgap reference circuit segment, and according to further embodiments of the present invention, a second threshold voltage detector circuit segment, which second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may be matched with the first voltage detector circuit, may generate a voltage reset signal indicating that the bandgap reference source is powering-up.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, once the IC power supply line reaches a second threshold voltage level, the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may disable the bandgap-reset signal. When the power supply line voltage level reaches a third threshold voltage level, which third threshold voltage level may be correlated to the output voltage level of the bandgap circuit output, the second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may either disable or otherwise modulate the voltage reset signal so as to indicate that the bandgap reference circuit is operating and providing a substantially stable reference voltage (e.g. 1.2 Volts).
The second threshold voltage level may be nearly or substantially equal to the output voltage of the bandgap reference (e.g. 1.2 Volts). According to some embodiments of the present invention, the third threshold voltage level may either be substantially equal to the second threshold voltage level or may be equal to the bandgap reference voltage output (e.g. 1.2 Volts) plus some voltage margin (e.g. 0.3 Volts).
According to further embodiments of the present invention, if the voltage level on the IC power supply line falls below the third threshold voltage level, the second threshold voltage detector circuit segment may modulate the voltage reset signal to indicate that the output of the bandgap reference circuit may be below its defined output voltage level, and the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment may again produce a bandgap reset signal.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the voltage reset signal generated by the second voltage threshold detector circuit segment may enable the first threshold voltage detector circuit segment to generate a bandgap reset signal.
Turning now to
According to some embodiments of the present invention, transistors P5 and P6, at the top of the second and third current mirrors branches, may not be identical in size (i.e. channel width/length), but rather P6 may be designed to be larger than P5. The ratio between P5 and P6 may be for example 1.2 or any other ratio which may be determined optimal for a specific: (1) purpose, (2) set of voltages and/or (3) a specific fabrication technology.
The asymmetry between the three branches may results in each of the three branches beginning to conduct current when VDD reaches each of three different voltage levels. During operation of the circuit of
For typical parameter values such as: Vtn_lv=0.4v, Vtp_hv=0.7v and Vdsat=0.05v, VDD_min—1 would equal about 0.45v. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the minimum conducting VDD voltages levels for the second branch (VDD_min—2) and the third branch (VDD_min—3) to begin conducting may be defined by the formulas:
Thus, for the typical parameter values listed above and when V_ref is equal to 0: VDD_min—2 may equal 0.8v, and VDD_min—3 may equal 0.8v.
The operation of the circuit in
Until VDD reaches VDD_min—2 (e.g. VDD=0.8v@T=T2), the second branch may stay out of saturation and V_sense may continue to be pulled down to near ground by NMOS N4, and thus V_reset may remain associated with logical “1” at a voltage level close to VDD. However, once VDD reaches and/or exceeds VDD_min—2 (e.g. VDD>0.8v@T>T2), transistors P5 may begin to conduct and current I2 in the second branch may begin flow. Since P6, which is part of a current mirror with P5, is larger than P5, when P5 starts conducting, P6 may begin to conduct at least as much current as P5, and according to some embodiments of the present invention, current may flow through P5 and P6 according to the size ration of P5:P6. Once P6 begins to conduct, V_sense may be pulled up to near VDD and the output of the inverter may change to logical “0,” close to 0 volts.
Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention, when V_ref=0v, V_reset=‘1’ may be well defined for VDD range. VDD_min—1 (0.4v)<VDD<VDD_min—2 (0.8v). According to embodiments of the present invention where V_ref>0, V_reset=‘1’ may be well defined for VDD range VDD_min—1 (0.4v)<VDD<V_ref+(Vtp_P2+Vdsat_P2+Vdsat_P6). Thus, V_ref's voltage level may be used to adjust the VDD voltage range at which V_reset=‘1.’
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the voltage threshold detection circuit may include an NMOS transistor N5 that may be used for compensation of corner dependence between NMOS and PMOS transistors. Transistors P3 and P4 may be used to add hysteresys to the voltage threshold detection circuit segment.
Turning now to
The second voltage threshold detection circuit segment of
Thus, once VDD reaches a first threshold voltage (i.e. time T1 in
According to some embodiments of the present invention, V_reset signal may be used to indicate to associated circuits that a bandgap reference is being initiated, while the bandgap reference signal may be used to start initiating a bandgap reference. It should be understood by anyone of ordinary skill in the art that both the V_reset signal and the bandgap reference signal may be used to other purposes including signaling associated circuit segments to begin powering up.
The exemplary bandgap reference source shown in
It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any bandgap reference source, known today or to be devised in the future may be applicable to the present invention. The exemplary bandgap reference source shown as unit
The output of the bandgap reference source may be connected to the bandgap reference follower, which bandgap reference follower may act as an output stage operating as a current buffer to mitigate current flow from the bandgap reference source. The bandgap reference follower may include an operation amplifier where one of the amplifiers inputs is the output of the bandgap reference source and the second input is direct in a direct feedback loop from the operational amplifier's output. The output of the operational amplifier may lead to ground through transistors P1 and N1, and the gate of P1 may be connected to its own drain and to the V_ref node of the second threshold voltage detection circuit segment. Because, according to the exemplary embodiment of
Thus, once VDD reaches a second threshold voltage level (e.g. VDD is near or equal to the bandgap reference source output voltage), point T2 in
Although when VDD reaches a second threshold voltage transistor P6 may conduct, while P2 is still shut off, node V_sense1 may not by pulled up to VDD. Depending upon the voltage level V_ref applied to P2, it may be required that VDD reach a third threshold voltage, a voltage level equal to the Second Threshold Voltage+Margin (See
Once VDD reaches the third threshold voltage, whether or not the third threshold voltage is substantially equal to the second threshold voltage, transistor P2 may turn on and V sense1 may be pulled up to VDD, thereby causing the output of the inverter to go “low”. The output of the inverter going low may be perceived as the shutting off or modulation of a V_reset signal according to some embodiments of the present invention (
According to some embodiments of the present invention, should VDD begin to drop below the third threshold level (e.g. a voltage sufficient for the bandgap reference to operate+Margin voltage), as shown in
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.