System for substrate potential regulation during power-up in integrated circuits
First Claim
1. A circuit for regulating a substrate potential of an integrated circuit comprising:
- a switch;
a first input for controlling the switch coupled to a first N-well bias supply line;
a second input for controlling the switch coupled to a substrate bias supply line;
a first switching terminal of the switch coupled to a ground; and
an output terminal of the switch coupled to a P-type substrate, wherein the switch is operable to selectively couple the second input to the output terminal responsive to a voltage of the substrate bias supply line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit with body-bias inputs coordinated by a switch at initial power application. A switch coupled to the N-well bias and P-type substrate bias lines of an integrated circuit selectively couples the substrate to ground or the substrate bias supply, depending upon the state of the bias supply lines. During power-up and the initial application of the N-well bias, the substrate is coupled to ground to prevent a leakage induce rise in the substrate potential. Upon sensing the presence of the substrate bias potential on the substrate bias line, the switch couples the substrate to the substrate bias line instead of ground. In another embodiment, a switch indirectly senses the availability of the substrate bias potential by sensing a charge pump enable signal.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A circuit for regulating a substrate potential of an integrated circuit comprising:
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a switch; a first input for controlling the switch coupled to a first N-well bias supply line; a second input for controlling the switch coupled to a substrate bias supply line; a first switching terminal of the switch coupled to a ground; and an output terminal of the switch coupled to a P-type substrate, wherein the switch is operable to selectively couple the second input to the output terminal responsive to a voltage of the substrate bias supply line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A circuit for regulating the substrate potential of an integrated circuit comprising:
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switch means; a first input for controlling the switch means coupled to a first N-well bias supply line; a second input for controlling the switch means coupled to a substrate bias supply line; a first switching terminal means of the switch means coupled to a ground; and an output terminal means of the switch means coupled to a P-type substrate, wherein the switch means is operable to selectively couple the second input to the output terminal means responsive to a voltage of the substrate bias supply line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated circuit for regulating a substrate potential of an integrated circuit comprising:
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a substrate; an integrated circuit switch formed on the substrate, the switch including; a first input configured for controlling the switch coupled to a first N-well bias supply line, the first N-well bias supply line configured for supplying a biasing voltage to an n-well; a second input configured for controlling the switch coupled to a substrate bias supply line, the substrate bias supply line configured for supplying a substrate biasing voltage to the substrate; a first switching terminal of the switch coupled to a ground; and an output terminal of the switch coupled to the substrate, wherein the switch is operable to selectively couple the second input to the output terminal responsive to a voltage of the substrate bias supply line. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A circuit for regulating a substrate potential of an integrated circuit comprising:
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a switch, the switch including; a first input for controlling the switch coupled to a first N-well bias supply line; a second input for controlling the switch coupled to a substrate bias supply line; an output coupled to a substrate; a first switching terminal of the switch coupled to a ground; and wherein the switch is configured for coupling the output to the first switching terminal responsive to a voltage on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An integrated circuit comprising:
a circuit for regulating the substrate potential of the integrated circuit including; a substrate; a n-well formed in the substrate; a switch, the switch comprising; a first input for controlling the switch coupled to the n-well and coupled to a first n-well bias supply line configured for providing a biasing voltage to the n-well; a second input for controlling the switch coupled to the substrate and coupled to a substrate bias supply line configured for providing a substrate biasing voltage to the substrate; an output of the switch coupled to the substrate; a first switching terminal of the switch coupled to a ground; and wherein the switch is configured for coupling the output to the first switching terminal responsive to the substrate biasing voltage. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
Specification