EP1277098B1 - Current generating device and voltage generating device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power generating device, by means of which in a device connected thereto, a predetermined current can be impressed.

Such power generation devices have been known for many years in innumerable embodiments, for example from the documents US 5 642 037 A and US Pat. No. 5,940,322 ,

Among other things, they are known to be by far not exclusively used in integrated circuits where they either power the entire integrated circuit or certain parts of the integrated circuit.

Power generation devices provided in integrated circuits do not have to be permanently active. This can have two reasons: either because the currents generated by the power generation devices are needed only on certain occasions (for example, to program a flash memory) or because the devices powered by the power generation devices are not always in operation must or should.

Circuits or circuit parts, which need not always be in operation or are, at times when they are not needed, often placed in a power saving mode such as a so-called sleep mode or a so-called power-down mode. In these modes, the respective circuits or circuit parts are placed in a state in which they consume less or no energy at all. This reduces energy consumption and heat generation.

There are various possibilities for putting a circuit or a circuit part in an energy-saving mode. Preferably, for this purpose, the relevant circuit or the relevant circuit part is supplied with energy supplying power generating device; As a result, energy consumption and heat generation can be maximally reduced.

Circuits or circuit parts which are placed in an energy-saving mode can, if necessary, be returned to the normal mode in which they, as the name already indicates, are normally supplied with power and operate normally.

Experience shows that switching a circuit or circuit part from a power saving mode to the normal mode takes some time. This means that after the changeover of the operating mode, it is necessary to wait more or less a long time until the relevant circuit or circuit part can be used as usual.

Since it is often not known in advance whether and when, when a circuit or a circuit part must be returned to the normal mode, the switching is generally only initiated at the time when the circuit or the circuit part in question is needed. But because it still has to wait until the switchover to the normal mode is completed (until the relevant circuit or the relevant circuit part is working properly again), the switching to the normal mode with a more or less associated with a long break, during which the integrated circuit containing the relevant circuit or the circuit part concerned can not work or at least not with maximum power.

This is understandably a disadvantage.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to find a way by which the switching of a circuit or a circuit part can be accelerated from a power-saving mode in the normal mode.

This object is achieved by the claimed in claim 1 power generation device.

The power generating device according to the invention is characterized inter alia by the fact that it is designed to temporarily impress a current in the device connected to the power generating device in response to a predetermined generating event signaled by a control signal, which is greater than the current that the power generating device imprinted in the device in the steady state.

Such power generating means enable the circuit or circuit part energized thereby to be momentarily energized after the switchover from a power saving mode to the normal mode, which causes the circuit to reach the normal level. Operating mode accelerated.

That a circuit or a circuit part is supplied during the mode change with a current that is higher than the current that would impress the power generation device, if it would not be signaled that just a mode change is performed, proves to be advantageous in two respects: On the one hand, this can be remedied adhering to the conventional power generation equipment shortcoming that they do not deliver equal to the currents they deliver in the steady state normal operation after their power, and on the other The power generation devices can thereby deliver during the mode change even currents that are deliberately higher than the currents generated in the steady-state normal operation of the power generating devices.

As a result, it can be achieved that the relevant circuit or the relevant circuit part passes more quickly into the state which it must assume in order to operate normally. In particular, it is possible that the existing in the circuit to be switched or existing in the circuit part switching capacities, including parasitic capacitances such as line capacitances (capacitances that are formed by existing in the circuit or in the circuit part lines) and gate Capacities (capacitances at gate terminals of field effect transistors) can be charged, discharged or reloaded faster, as required for proper operation of the circuit or the circuit part. In addition, it can be achieved by suitable currents at the source and / or drain terminals of field effect transistors that forms a conductive channel faster in the respective field effect transistors.

By using as claimed trained power generating means and a suitable control of the same, the switching of a circuit or a circuit part of a power-saving mode in the normal mode can be performed at maximum speed. It is even possible that the circuit to be switched or the circuit part to be switched over can be used immediately (already in the next cycle) as usual.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the dependent claims, the following description, and the figures removed.

Figur 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel der nachfolgend näher beschriebenen Stromerzeugungseinrichtung, und

Figur 2

Zeitdiagramme zur Veranschaulichung der sich in der Stromerzeugungseinrichtung gemäß Figur 1 einstellen- den Verhältnisse.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the figures. Show it

FIG. 1

an embodiment of the power generating device described in more detail below, and

FIG. 2

Timing diagrams for illustrating in the power generation device according to FIG. 1 adjusting conditions.

The power generating device described in more detail below and the voltage generating device described in more detail below are part of an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is a microcontroller in the example considered; the power generation device and voltage generating device described are used in the example considered to supply power to read amplifiers for reading out a memory provided in the microcontroller (an embedded memory).

However, it should be noted at this point that there is no restriction. The current generation device described and the voltage generation device described can also be used in any other integrated circuits and also outside integrated circuits and used to supply any device inside and outside of integrated circuits.

The power generating device described is characterized in that it is designed to temporarily impress in response to predetermined events a relation to otherwise changed current in the device connected to the power generating device.

The voltage generating device described is characterized in that it is designed to temporarily apply in response to predetermined events a relation to otherwise changed voltage to the device connected to the voltage generating device.

These peculiarities are used in the example considered, to the by the power generation device or To bring the voltage generating device to be supplied with energy device as quickly as possible from an energy-saving mode such as the so-called sleep mode or the so-called power-down mode in the normal mode. The peculiarities of the power generating device described and the power supply device described can also be used advantageously for other purposes, for example, to bring the energy to be supplied device after switching on the system faster in an operational state.

The power generating device described is in FIG. 1 shown. The arrangement shown comprises a bias current generator IG, PMOS transistors T0 to Tn, an NMOS transistor Tdyn, a capacitor C, and a resistor R.

The Biasstromgenerator IG generates a current I _Bias0 , which in the manner described in more detail below by the connected to a current mirror transistors T0 to Tn in _Biasströme I _Bias1 to I _{Biasn is} implemented. The bias currents I _bias1 to I _bias are the currents which are impressed into the sense amplifiers, not shown in the figures, of the microcontroller under consideration, and via which they are supplied with the energy required for their operation.

The bias current generator IG is connected in series with the transistor T0. As a result, the transistor T0 is traversed by the current I _Bias0 generated by the bias current _generator . A current flow through the transistor T0 causes currents to flow through the transistors T1 to Tn connected to the transistor T0 to form a current mirror, namely the currents I _Bias1 to I _Biasn already mentioned above. The magnitude of the currents I _bias1 to I _bias depends on the W / L ratios that the transistor T0 and the transistors T1 to Tn have.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the currents I _bias1 to I _bias do not originate from the bias current generator IG; these currents come from supply lines V1 and V2, which are acted upon by a different energy source, not shown in the figures, with a positive potential VDD (V1) and a neutral or negative potential VSS (V2).

In normal operation of the _device , the currents I _bias1 through I _{bias have} a non-zero, constant magnitude; When the devices (the sense amplifiers) to be supplied with power by these currents are set in the above-mentioned power saving mode, the currents I _Bias0 to I _{Biasn are} equal to zero.

When the sense amplifiers are switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the bias current generator IG (disabled during the power saving mode) is activated. However, the current I Bias0 generated by the bias current _generator does not increase abruptly, but only very gradually to the size that it would have to have for proper operation of the sense amplifiers. This is shown in picture (c) below FIG. 2 shown. Without the particularities of the current generation _device considered in more detail below, the currents I _bias1 to I _{bias would have} a similar course, with the result that it takes a relatively long time for the sense amplifiers to be in the ready state.

In the considered power generating device, this is avoided by the specific features described below. These peculiarities consist in an additional circuit part, by means of which the current flowing through the transistor T0 and thus also the currents I _Bias1 to I _Biasn impressed by the transistors T1 to Tn into the devices connected _thereto can be influenced.

In the example considered, this additional circuit part ensures that the transistor T0 ₍ through which the current I _Bias0 generated by the bias current generator IG flows) is _additionally traversed by a current not generated by the bias current generator IG when predetermined events occur.

The flow of the additional current is effected by a switching of a switching device, which is connected in series to the transistor T0, which is flowed through by the bias current generator IG and the additional current, and their operation, the opening and closing of a transistor and the switching device containing circuit causes.

The said switching device is formed in the example considered by a parallel to the bias current generator provided transistor. This transistor is the already mentioned transistor Tdyn.

If and as long as the transistor Tdyn is driven so that it conducts, flows through him (the supply lines V1 and V2 removed) current I _dyn . Since the transistor Tdyn is connected in series with the transistor T0, this is also traversed by the current I _dyn . The transistor T0 is thus traversed by a current corresponding to the sum of the currents I _Bias0 + I _dyn .

The transistor Tdyn is controlled by a signal which signals the events in response to which in the device connected to the power generating means (the sense amplifiers) is to be impressed over otherwise changed current.

This signal is in the example considered a powerdown signal PWD \ indicating the mode of operation of the device connected to the power generating device and is the Gate of the transistor Tdyn supplied via a high-pass filter; the high-pass filter is formed in the example considered by the already mentioned capacitor C and the resistor R also already mentioned.

The power-down signal PWD \ has the level 0 in the example under consideration when the sense amplifiers are in the energy-saving mode, and has the level 1 when the sense amplifiers are in the normal mode.

The transistor Tdyn and the high pass upstream of it are so arranged and dimensioned that a current I _dyn flows "only" for a short time after the switching of the sense amplifiers from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and that the current I _dyn to all other times is zero.

If and as long as the level of the power down signal PWD \ does not change, the high pass blocks the signal, thereby blocking the transistor regardless of the level of the power down signal PWD \.

This changes when the sense amplifiers in the power saving mode are set to the normal mode. This may be the case in the example considered at a time t0.

Then at time t0, the power-down signal PWD \ jumps from level 0 to level 1. This is in diagram (a) of FIG FIG. 2 shown.

By the gate of the transistor Tdyn upstream high-pass filter causes the power-down signal PWD \ can briefly reach the gate terminal of the transistor Tdyn. This, in turn, causes the transistor Tdyn to be transiently turned on, causing a non-zero current I _dyn through the transistor Tdyn is flowing. The time course of the current I _dyn is in diagram (b) of FIG. 2 illustrated. Accordingly, the current I _dyn ab t0 initially steeply increases to a relatively high value, and then gradually falls back to the value zero.

Irrespective of this, a current flow, more precisely a flow of I _{Bias0, is also} effected as of time t0 by the bias current generator IG activated again from there. The time course of the current I _Bias0 is shown in diagram (c) of FIG. 2 illustrated. Accordingly, the current I _Bias0 from t0 of zero gradually increases to the current required for proper operation of the sense amplifiers.

The transistor T0 is now traversed by a current corresponding to the sum of the currents I _Bias0 + I _dyn . This current flow causes current flows with corresponding time profiles to be established in the transistors T1 to Tn. The course of the current flowing through the transistor T1 (impressed into the associated sense amplifier) is shown in diagram (d) of FIG FIG. 2 illustrated. Accordingly, the current I _Bias1 rises _sharply from a first to a relatively high value, and then gradually decreases again to the current required in the steady state of the sense amplifiers for proper operation thereof.

Characterized in that - unlike conventional power generation facilities - after the cause of switching a circuit or a circuit part of the energy-saving mode in the normal mode not about first flows a current that is less than the current in the steady state of the sense amplifier for proper operation of the same is required, but a current flowing greater than the current required in the steady state of the sense amplifier for proper operation of the same, the sense amplifier can be put into a ready state much faster than has previously been the case. Due to the higher current In particular, it is possible to charge, discharge or recharge capacities present in the sense amplifiers, including parasitic capacitances such as, for example, line capacitances and gate capacitances, faster, as required for proper operation of the sense amplifiers. In addition, thereby a faster channel structure can be achieved in the field effect transistors.

The same applies, of course, also for the case that the device to be supplied by the power generation device does not consist of one or more sense amplifiers, but is any other device.

Depending on the characteristics of the device connected to the power generating device, it may also be advantageous if the power generating device is designed to temporarily impress a current that is otherwise reduced in response to certain events into the device concerned.

The event, in response to which the power generating device imprints a current that is otherwise changed in the device connected thereto, need not be the switching of the device in question from a power-saving mode to the normal mode; it can also be any other event.

• "nur" etwas größer oder kleiner sein kann als die Spannung, die die Spannungserzeugungseinrichtung zum betreffenden Zeitpunkt anlegen würde, wenn das vorbestimmte Ereignis nicht aufgetreten wäre, oder
• sogar größer oder kleiner sein kann als die Spannung, die die Spannungserzeugungseinrichtung im eingeschwungenen Zustand an die Einrichtung anlegt.

The peculiarities of the power generating device described above can also be used analogously in voltage generating devices. Such a voltage generating device is characterized in that it is designed in such a way that, in response to predetermined events, it temporarily applies an otherwise changed voltage to the device connected to the voltage generating device, the voltage which the voltage generating device sends to the voltage generator in response to the predetermined events creates attached facilities,

• "only" may be slightly larger or smaller than the voltage that the voltage generator would apply at the particular time if the predetermined event had not occurred, or
• may even be greater or less than the voltage applied by the voltage generating device in the steady state to the device.

How a voltage that can be generated temporarily compared to otherwise changed voltage is clear to the person skilled in the art and needs no further explanation.

When the means to which the voltage generated by the voltage generating means applies a power generating means which generates a current whose magnitude depends on the voltage generated by the voltage generating means, such voltage generating means (and a conventional power generating means) can be used same effect can be achieved as with the novel power generating device described above.

Of course, any other means may be connected to the voltage generating means, and of course the events in response to which the voltage generating means generates a voltage that is otherwise changed may be any events.

As described or similarly constructed power generation devices and voltage generating devices can be used advantageously for a variety of applications. They allow, inter alia, but by no means exclusively, that the switching of a circuit or a circuit part of a power-saving mode in the normal mode maximum speed can perform.

Claims (6)

1. Current generating device, by means of which a predetermined current can be forced to flow into a device which is connected to it in the steady state, wherein the current generating device is designed to force a current to flow temporarily into the device which is connected to the current generating device, in response to a predetermined event signaled to the current generating device by a control signal (PWD\), which current is greater than the current which the current generating device forces to flow into the device in the steady state, and wherein the current generating device

   - contains a current generator (IG) which generates a specific current (IBias0),

   - contains a transistor (T0) which is connected to the current generator (IG) such that the current (IBias0) which is generated by the current generator flows through it, and

   - contains one or more further transistors (T1-Tn), through which currents (IBias1 - IBiasn) which are not generated by the current generator flow, with the transistor (T0) through which the current which is generated by the current generator flows, and the further transistors (T1-Tn), being connected to form current mirrors, and with the currents (IBias1 - IBiasn) which flow through the further transistors (T1-Tn) being those currents which are forced to flow into devices which are connected to the current generating device.
2. Current generating device according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the predetermined event signaled by the control signal (PWD\) comprises the switching of the device which is connected to the current generating device from an energy saving operating mode to the normal operating mode.
3. Current generating device according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized
   in that the device which is connected to the current generating device comprises one or more read amplifiers for reading data which is stored in a memory device.
4. Current generating device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that this current generating device is constructed such that the transistor (TO), through which the current (IBias0) which is generated by the current generator (IG) flows, also has a current (Idyn) which is not generated by the current generator flowing through it when the predetermined event occurs, wherein the flow of the additional current (Idyn) is produced by switching on a switching device (Tdyn), which is controlled by the control signal (PWD\), is connected in series with the transistor (T0) through which the current which is generated by the current generator (IG) and the additional current flow, and whose operation results in the opening and closing of a circuit which contains the transistor (T0) and the switching device (Tdyn).
5. Current generating device according to Claim 4,
   characterized
   in that the switching device (Tdyn) is a transistor.
6. Current generating device according to Claim 4,
   characterized
   in that the control signal (PWD\) which controls the switching device (Tdyn) is applied to the switching device via a high-pass filter (C, R) or via a low-pass filter.

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