Overvoltage protection for circuits of memory devices

An apparatus, comprising:

• a voltage regulator configured to regulate a voltage source;
• a reference circuit configured to generate a reference signal for the voltage regulator based at least in part on a first voltage of the voltage source, the reference circuit comprising a transistor having a gate, a first node that is coupled with the voltage source, and a second node;
• a protection circuit configured to maintain a difference between a second voltage of the gate of the transistor and a third voltage of the second node of the transistor below an upper voltage limit, wherein the protection circuit comprises:
• a comparator configured to generate an indication based at least in part on the upper voltage limit and the difference between the second voltage of the gate of the transistor and the third voltage of the second node of the transistor, and
• a pull-down circuit configured to pull down the second voltage of the gate of the transistor based at least in part on the indication;
• and
• a delay component configured to filter out transient outputs of the comparator.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a voltage regulator configured to regulate a voltage source;
• a reference circuit configured to generate a reference signal for the voltage regulator based at least in part on a first voltage of the voltage source, the reference circuit comprising a transistor having a gate, a first node that is coupled with the voltage source, and a second node;
• and
• a protection circuit configured to maintain a difference between a second voltage of the gate of the transistor and a third voltage of the second node of the transistor below an upper voltage limit, wherein the protection circuit comprises:
• a comparator configured to generate an indication based at least in part on the upper voltage limit and the difference between the second voltage of the gate of the transistor and the third voltage of the second node of the transistor, wherein the comparator comprises:
• a second transistor, wherein a gate of the second transistor is coupled with a drain of the second transistor and a source of the second transistor is coupled with a second voltage source,
• a third transistor coupled with the second voltage source, wherein a gate of the third transistor is coupled with the gate of the second transistor and a source of the third transistor is coupled with the second voltage source,
• a fourth transistor, wherein a gate of the fourth transistor is coupled with an output of the reference circuit, a source of the fourth transistor is coupled with the voltage source, and a drain of the fourth transistor is coupled with the drain of the second transistor, and
• a fifth transistor, wherein a gate of the fifth transistor is coupled with a reference voltage that is associated with the upper voltage limit, a source of the fifth transistor is coupled with a ground reference, and a drain of the fifth transistor is coupled with a drain of the third transistor, an output of the comparator being coupled with the drain of the fifth transistor;
• and
• a pull-down circuit configured to pull down the second voltage of the gate of the transistor based at least in part on the indication.

A method, comprising:

• transitioning a voltage supply that is coupled with a voltage regulator from a first voltage to a second voltage;
• activating a reference circuit that comprises a transistor and provides a reference voltage for controlling the voltage regulator based at least in part on transitioning the voltage supply, wherein a third voltage of a gate of the transistor matches the reference voltage and a fourth voltage of a second node of the transistor is based at least in part on transitioning the voltage supply;
• determining a difference between the third voltage of the gate of the transistor and a voltage of the voltage supply;
• comparing the difference with a second reference voltage that is based at least in part on an upper voltage limit for the transistor;
• activating, based at least in part on the comparing, a pull-down circuit that is coupled with the gate of the transistor based at least in part on the difference exceeding the second reference voltage, wherein activating the pull-down circuit comprises transitioning a control signal for the pull-down circuit to an activation voltage;
• and
• maintaining, for a duration, the control signal for the pull-down circuit at the activation voltage based at least in part on the difference between the voltage of the gate of the transistor and the voltage of the voltage supply falling below or equaling the upper voltage limit associated with the transistor.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a voltage supply;
• a voltage regulator coupled with the voltage supply;
• a reference circuit that comprises a transistor, the reference circuit being coupled with the voltage supply and configured to provide a reference voltage for controlling the voltage regulator;
• a pull-down circuit coupled with the reference circuit and a gate of the transistor;
• and
• a control component coupled with the reference circuit and the pull-down circuit, wherein the control component is configured to cause the apparatus to:
• transition the voltage supply from a first voltage to a second voltage;
• activate the reference circuit based at least in part on transitioning the voltage supply, wherein a third voltage of the gate of the transistor is configured to match the reference voltage output by the reference circuit and a fourth voltage of a second node of the transistor is based at least in part on a voltage of the voltage supply;
• determine a difference between the third voltage of the gate of the transistor and the voltage of the voltage supply;
• compare the difference with a second reference voltage that is based at least in part on an upper voltage limit for the transistor;
• activate, based at least in part on the comparing, the pull-down circuit based at least in part on the difference exceeding the second reference voltage, wherein, to activate the pull-down circuit, the control component is further configured to cause the apparatus to transition a control signal for the pull-down circuit to an activation voltage;
• and
• maintain, for a duration, the control signal for the pull-down circuit at the activation voltage based at least in part on the difference between the voltage of the gate of the transistor and the voltage of the voltage supply falling below or equaling the upper voltage limit associated with the transistor.