Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090033311 | Current Source with Power Supply Voltage Variation Compensation - A multipath current source has separate reference current, control current and output current paths. Voltages in the reference current and control current paths are monitored. Any differences between those two voltages are fed to the gates of current control devices in the reference, control and output current paths to maintain the currents in all paths substantially constant with changes in supply voltage. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034144 | On-Chip High Frequency Power Supply Noise Sensor - The on-chip power supply noise sensor detects high frequency overshoots and undershoots of the power supply voltage. By creating two identical current sources and attaching a time constant circuit to only one, the high frequency transient behavior differs while the low frequency behavior is equivalent. By comparing these currents, the magnitude of very high frequency power supply noise cars be sensed and used to either set latches or add to a digital counter. This has the advantage of directly sensing the power supply noise in a matter that does not require calibration. Also, since the sensor requires only one power supply, it can he used anywhere on a chip. Finally, it filters out any lower frequency noise that is not interesting to the circuit designer and can he timed to detect down to whatever frequency is needed. | 02-05-2009 |
20090189591 | Power Supply Insensitive PTAT Voltage Generator - In temperature sensing circuitry PTAT (Proportional to Absolute Temperature) Voltage References are typically used. By adding a feedback circuit and a source follower into the classic design, the circuit can guarantee that the current is mirrored identically regardless of the value of power supply voltage. This added circuitry is easy to implement and is low in both power and area. The essence of this invention is that the PTAT circuit allows a large range of operation including low voltage (1 Volt) and more accurate temperature readings. | 07-30-2009 |
20100001766 | SYSTEM TO EVALUATE A VOLTAGE IN A CHARGE PUMP AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A system to evaluate a voltage in a charge pump may include a transistor, and a transistor drain carried by the transistor with the transistor drain receiving a reference current. The system may also include a transistor gate carried by the transistor and connected to the transistor drain. The system may further include an additional transistor and an additional transistor gate carried by the additional transistor and connected to the transistor gate. The system may additionally include an additional transistor drain to receive the reference current mirrored from the additional transistor. | 01-07-2010 |
20100109700 | ON-CHIP DETECTION OF POWER SUPPLY VULNERABILITIES - On-chip sensor to detect power supply vulnerabilities. The on-chip sensor employs a sensitive delay chain and an insensitive delay chain to detect power supply undershoots and overshoots without requiring external off-chip components. Undershoots and overshoots outside a user-defined threshold are detected. The undershoots and overshoots are indicated by a relative difference in phase of the two delay chains. The two delay chains are programmable to detect various frequencies. | 05-06-2010 |
20110316506 | Dual Loop Voltage Regulator with Bias Voltage Capacitor - A voltage regulator includes a regulator input connected to a reference voltage; a regulator output that outputs a regulated voltage to an electrical load; a first loop, the first loop configured to receive the reference voltage, the first loop outputting a bias voltage; a second loop, the second loop configured to receive the bias voltage as an input; and a bias voltage capacitor connected to a node between the first loop and the second loop. | 12-29-2011 |
20110316593 | Phase Locked Loop with Startup Oscillator and Primary Oscillator - A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for a phase locked loop (PLL) includes a startup oscillator, the startup oscillator comprising a first plurality of inverters; a primary oscillator, the primary oscillator comprising a second plurality of inverters, wherein a number of the second plurality of inverters is fewer than the number of the first plurality of inverters; and a control module connected to the startup oscillator and the primary oscillator. A method of operating a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in a phase locked loop (PLL), the VCO comprising a startup oscillator and a primary oscillator includes sending an enable signal to the startup oscillator; waiting a predetermined number of startup oscillator clock cycles; and when the predetermined number of startup oscillator clock cycles has elapsed, sending a disable signal to the startup oscillator, and sending an enable signal to the primary oscillator. | 12-29-2011 |
20110317829 | Physically Unclonable Function Implemented Through Threshold Voltage Comparison - Electronic devices and methods are disclosed to provide and to test a physically unclonable function (PUF) based on relative threshold voltages of one or more pairs of transistors. In a particular embodiment, an electronic device is operable to generate a response to a challenge. The electronic device includes a plurality of transistors, with each of the plurality of transistors having a threshold voltage substantially equal to an intended threshold voltage. The electronic device includes a challenge input configured to receive the challenge. The challenge input includes one or more bits that are used to individually select each of a pair of transistors of the plurality of transistors. The electronic device also includes a comparator to receive an output voltage from each of the pair of transistors and to generate a response indicating which of the pair of transistors has the higher output voltage. The output voltage of each of the pair of transistors varies based on the threshold voltage of each of the pair of transistors. | 12-29-2011 |
20130088374 | SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER WITH COMPARATOR INPUT TOGGLING - A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (SA-ADC) includes a reference generator configured to output a first voltage and a second voltage; a comparator, the comparator having a positive input and a negative input thereto, the comparator being configured to receive the first voltage and the second voltage; and a comparator input toggle located between the reference generator and the comparator, wherein the comparator input toggle is configured to receive the first and second voltages from the reference generator and provide the first and second voltages to the comparator, wherein the comparator input toggle is further configured to switch between a first position, in which the first voltage is connected to the positive input, and the second voltage is connected to the negative input, and a second position, in which the second voltage is connected to the positive input, and the first voltage is connected to the negative input. | 04-11-2013 |
20130135941 | Enhanced Data Retention Mode for Dynamic Memories - A memory device includes memory cells, each of the memory cells having corresponding bit and word lines connected thereto for accessing the memory cells, a word line circuit coupled with at least one word line, and a bit line circuit coupled with at least one bit line. The memory device further includes at least one control circuit coupled with the bit and word line circuits. The control circuit is operative to cause state information to be stored in the memory cells. At least one switching element selectively connects the memory cells, the bit and word line circuits, and the control circuit to at least one power supply as a function of at least one control signal. The control circuit generates the control signal for disconnecting at least portions of the word line and bit line circuits from the power supply while state information is retained in the memory cells. | 05-30-2013 |
20150054493 | CHARGE PUMP GENERATOR WITH DIRECT VOLTAGE SENSOR - Embodiments relate to a direct voltage sensor and a charge pump system for a computer system. A charge pump that supplies switching current for a plurality of transistors includes a capacitor generating a pumped voltage. A comparator generates a pump control signal for turning on and off charging of the pump capacitor based on a difference between a comparison voltage and a reference voltage. A direct voltage sensor receives a feedback signal reflecting the pumped voltage and generates the comparison voltage in response to the feedback signal. The sensor includes a sensor resistor, a current source configured to drive a sensor current through the sensor resistor, and a differential op-amp that drives the sensor current to cause the voltage drop across the sensor resistor to remain constant as the pumped voltage experiences the voltage drop. The charge pump may include two similar direct voltage sensor controlling positive and negative pumped voltages. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054572 | CHARGE PUMP GENERATOR WITH DIRECT VOLTAGE SENSOR - A method for operating a charge pump that supplies switching current for a plurality of transistors includes a capacitor generating a pumped voltage. A comparator generates a pump control signal for turning on and off charging of the pump capacitor based on a difference between a comparison voltage and a reference voltage. A direct voltage sensor receives a feedback signal reflecting the pumped voltage and generates the comparison voltage in response to the feedback signal. The sensor includes a sensor resistor, a current source configured to drive a sensor current through the sensor resistor, and a differential op-amp that drives the sensor current to cause the voltage drop across the sensor resistor to remain constant as the pumped voltage experiences the voltage drop. The charge pump may include two similar direct voltage sensor controlling positive and negative pumped voltages. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054574 | DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED VOLTAGE REGULATORS - A system and method to regulate voltage on a chip are described. The system includes a central controller to output a digital code based on a voltage measurement from a sense point on a power grid of the chip. The system also includes a plurality of micro-regulators, each of the plurality of micro-regulators outputting a respective voltage to the power grid based on the digital code. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054575 | DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED VOLTAGE REGULATORS - A system and method to regulate voltage on a chip are described. The system includes a central controller to output a digital code based on a voltage measurement from a sense point on a power grid of the chip. The system also includes a plurality of micro-regulators, each of the plurality of micro-regulators outputting a respective voltage to the power grid based on the digital code. | 02-26-2015 |