Apparatus including circuit usage detection mechanism and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorZhi Qi Huang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to tracking a status of a health monitor are described. An apparatus includes a mirrored path of components configured to generate a mirrored current that is in direct proportion to a load current provided to the health monitor. The apparatus includes additional circuitry configured to monitor the mirrored current to determine one or more statuses for the health monitor, circuitry tracked by the health monitor, or both.
Claims20
A memory configured to operate within a vehicle, the memory comprising:
- a memory array;
- a health monitor having a set of sensors and configured to track operating conditions of the memory;
- a monitor-input regulator coupled to the health monitor and configured to supply a loading current for operating the health monitor, wherein the monitor-input regulator includes a load driving component disposed between (1) a system input supply VCCP and (2) the health monitor;
- and
- an overload detection circuit coupled to the health monitor and the monitor-input regulator and configured to provide a mirrored current that is in direct proportion to the loading current,
- wherein the overload detection circuit includes a mirrored control component disposed between (1) the system input supply VCCP and (2) an overload comparator configured to indicate an over usage detection when the mirrored current meets or exceeds a predetermined reference threshold.
A method of manufacturing a memory device configured to operate within a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a semiconductor substrate;
- forming circuitry on the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry including:
- a memory array;
- a health monitor having a set of sensors and configured to track operating conditions of the memory;
- a monitor-input regulator coupled to the health monitor and configured to supply a loading current for operating the health monitor, wherein the monitor-input regulator includes a load driving component disposed between (1) a system input supply VCCP and (2) the health monitor;
- an overload detection circuit coupled to the health monitor and the monitor-input regulator and configured to generate a mirrored current that is in direct proportion to the loading current,
- wherein the overload detection circuit includes a mirrored control component disposed between (1) the system input supply CCP and (2) an overload comparator configured to indicate an over usage detection when the mirrored current meets or exceeds a predetermined reference threshold;
- and
- singulating the semiconductor substrate to manufacture the memory including the circuitry.
An apparatus, comprising:
- functional circuitry;
- a health monitor having a set of sensors and configured to track operating conditions of the functional circuitry;
- a load driving component connected between an input supply and the health monitor, the load driving component configured to provide a loading current and load voltage to the health monitor;
- a mirrored control component connected to the input supply and configured to provide a mirrored current that is in direct proportion to the loading current;
- a linking component connected to the load driving component and the mirrored control component, the linking component configured to duplicate the load voltage at an output of the load driving component;
- and
- an overload comparator configured to indicate an over usage detection when the mirrored current meets or exceeds a predetermined reference threshold, wherein the over usage detection represents degradation in the set of sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.