Circuit for in-system programming of memory device
First Claim
1. A circuit for generating a programming voltage to be applied to an electronic circuit device comprising:
- an output node to which said programming voltage is coupled for application to said electronic circuit device;
a switchmode power converter having a clock-controlled switching device coupled in circuit with a supply voltage and an auxiliary energy storage circuit, and having a drive terminal coupled to receive a clock signal, said switchmode power converter being operative, in response to application of said clock signal to said drive terminal, to controllably generate a programming voltage that exceeds a normal operating voltage of said electronic circuit device; and
a voltage regulator, coupled in circuit with said switchmode power converter and said output node, and being operative to regulate said programming voltage for application to said output node and thereby to said electronic circuit device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A programming circuit is coupled to an input/output pin of a device and is operative to generate a selected one of a plurality of electrical stimuli, such as a programming voltage, high and low logic levels, and a high impedance output, to the device in selected electrical state, without affecting normal device operation. The programming circuit includes a switchmode power converter, a linear regulator, and a control circuit. The programming voltage is generated by the switchmode power converter only when required for programming the device. The linear regulator includes a transistor having its collector-emitter path coupled in circuit with the switchmode converter and an output node, as well as to a voltage divider network. The voltage divider network is coupled to the control input of a precision shunt regulator device, which supplies a base reference for the transistor to establish the value of a voltage to be applied provided from the output node to the device. The base of the linear regulator'"'"'s transistor is also controllably coupled to ground through the collector-emitter path of a steering transistor of the control circuit. The regulator'"'"'s output node is also controllably coupled to ground through the collector-emitter path of a steering transistor of the control circuit. The output node is coupled to a programming (I/O) pin of the device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A circuit for generating a programming voltage to be applied to an electronic circuit device comprising:
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an output node to which said programming voltage is coupled for application to said electronic circuit device;
a switchmode power converter having a clock-controlled switching device coupled in circuit with a supply voltage and an auxiliary energy storage circuit, and having a drive terminal coupled to receive a clock signal, said switchmode power converter being operative, in response to application of said clock signal to said drive terminal, to controllably generate a programming voltage that exceeds a normal operating voltage of said electronic circuit device; and
a voltage regulator, coupled in circuit with said switchmode power converter and said output node, and being operative to regulate said programming voltage for application to said output node and thereby to said electronic circuit device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of generating a programming voltage for application to an electronic circuit device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a switchmode power converter having a clock-controlled switching device coupled in circuit with a supply, voltage and an auxiliary energy storage circuit, and having a drive terminal that is adapted to receive a clock signal, said switchmode power converter being operative, in response to application of said clock signal to said drive terminal, to controllably generate a programming voltage that exceeds a normal operating voltage of said electronic circuit device;
(b) coupling a voltage regulator with said switchmode power converter and said output node, said voltage regulator being operative to regulate said programming voltage for application to said output node and thereby to said electronic circuit device; and
(c) applying said clock signal to said drive terminal and thereby causing said switchmode power converter to controllably generate said programming voltage that exceeds said normal operating voltage of said electronic circuit device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification