PRECISE CONTROL COMPONENT FOR A SUBSTRATE POTENTIAL REGULATION CIRCUIT

• US 20100201434A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tien-Min Chen
• Original Assignee: Tien-Min Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Tien-Min
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/534
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/205 Substrate bias-voltage generators for static stores G11C5/146
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0018 Special modifications or use of the back gate voltage of a FET

Abstract

A control circuit for substrate potential regulation for an integrated circuit device. The control circuit includes a current source configured to generate a reference current. A variable resistor is coupled to the current source. The variable resistor is configured to receive the reference current and generate a reference voltage at a node between the current source and the variable resistor. The reference voltage controls the operation of a substrate potential regulation circuit coupled to the node.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a body bias voltage;

adjusting the body bias voltage based on a voltage value representative of the body bias voltage; and

shunting the body bias voltage based on said adjusting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

generating a positive body bias voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

generating a negative body bias voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting comprises:

generating a reference current; and

using a variable resistor, the reference current, and the body bias voltage to generate the voltage value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said adjusting further comprises:

comparing the voltage value with a reference voltage; and

based on said comparison, adjusting the body bias voltage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive negative body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive positive body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.

8. A method comprising:

comparing a voltage value representative of a body bias voltage with a reference voltage;

adjusting the body bias voltage based on said comparing; and

shunting the body bias voltage based on said adjusting.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said comparing comprises:

generating a reference current.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said comparing further comprises:

using a variable resistor, the reference current, and the body bias voltage to generate the voltage value.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said adjusting comprises:

generating a positive body bias voltage.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said adjusting comprises:

generating a negative body bias voltage.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive negative body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive positive body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.

15. A method comprising:

generating a reference current;

using the reference current to generate a voltage value representative of a body bias voltage;

adjusting the body bias voltage based on the voltage value; and

shunting the body bias voltage based on said adjusting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting comprises:

comparing the voltage value with a reference voltage; and

based on said comparison, adjusting the body bias voltage.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting comprises:

generating a positive body bias voltage.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting comprises:

generating a negative body bias voltage.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive negative body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said shunting comprises:

discharging an excessive positive body bias voltage to a desired voltage level.