Pump circuits and methods for integrated circuits including first and second oscillators and first and second pumps
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsHyung-Dong Kim, Chi-Sung Oh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Boosted voltage generates and methods for an integrated circuit are configured to boost an initial boosted voltage to a first boosted voltage in response to detecting a drop in the initial voltage. The first boosted voltage is then boosted to a second boosted voltage in response to a pulse. The second boosted voltage is then repeatedly boosted to approach the initial boosted voltage in response to an oscillating signal. Accordingly, stable boosted voltages may be generated.
Claims17
A pump circuit for an integrated circuit comprising:
- a standby mode voltage detector that is configured to detect a high voltage in a standby mode to generate a standby mode voltage signal;
- an active mode voltage detector that is configured to detect the high voltage in an active mode to generate an active mode voltage signal;
- an active pump signal generator that is configured to generate an active pump signal in response to the active mode voltage signal and an active mode signal;
- a first oscillator that is enabled in response to the standby mode voltage signal;
- a second oscillator that is enabled in response to the active pump signal;
- a high voltage pump signal generator that is configured to receive an output of the first oscillator and an output of the second oscillator and to generate a high voltage pump signal in response to the active mode signal;
- a high voltage pulse signal generator that is configured to generate a high voltage pulse signal in response to the active pump signal;
- a first pump that is configured to generate the high voltage in response to the high voltage pump signal and the high voltage pulse signal;
- and
- a second pump that is configured to generate the high voltage in response to the active pump signal.
A method for generating a boosted voltage for an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
- detecting a high voltage in a standby mode to generate a standby mode voltage signal;
- detecting the high voltage in an active mode to generate an active mode voltage signal;
- generating an active pump signal in response to the active mode voltage signal and an active mode signal;
- generating a first oscillation signal in response to the standby mode voltage signal, the first oscillation signal having a first oscillation period;
- generating a second oscillation signal in response to the active pump signal, the second oscillation signal having a second oscillation period;
- generating a high voltage pump signal in response to the first and second oscillation signals;
- generating a high voltage pulse in response to the active pump signal;
- and
- performing a charge pumping operation in response to the high voltage pump signal, the high voltage pulse and the active pump signal to generate the high voltage.
A pump circuit for an integrated circuit comprising:
- a first oscillator;
- a second oscillator that is responsive to an active pump signal;
- a pump signal generator that is responsive to the first and second oscillators;
- a first pump that is responsive to the pump signal generator;
- and
- a second pump that is responsive to the active pump signal, wherein outputs of the first and second pumps are combined to provide a boosted voltage for the integrated circuit.
A method for generating a boosted voltage for an integrated circuit comprising:
- generating a first oscillating signal;
- generating a second oscillating signal in response to an active pump signal;
- generating a high voltage pump signal in response to the first and second oscillating signals;
- generating a first boosted voltage in response to the high voltage pump signal;
- generating a second boosted voltage in response to the active pump signal;
- and
- combining the first and second boosted voltages.
A boosted voltage generator for an integrated circuit comprising:
- a first circuit that is configured to boost an initial boosted voltage to a first boosted voltage in response to detecting a drop in the initial boosted voltage;
- a second circuit that is configured to boost the first boosted voltage to a second boosted voltage in response to a pulse;
- and
- a third circuit that is configured to repeatedly boost the second boosted voltage to approach the initial boosted voltage in response to an oscillating signal.
A method for generating a boosted voltage for an integrated circuit comprising:
- boosting an initial boosted voltage to a first boosted voltage in response to detecting a drop in the initial boosted voltage;
- then
- boosting the first boosted voltage to a second boosted voltage in response to a pulse;
- and then
- repeatedly boosting the second boosted voltage to approach the initial boosted voltage in response to an oscillating signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.