Internal voltage supplying device

• US 8,183,912 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Inventors: Do, Chang-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dinh T.
• Application Number:
  US12/875,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 327534-543, 327/589
• US Class Current: 327/534
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/143 Detection of memory cassette insertion or removal; Continuity checks of supply or ground lines; Detection of supply variations, interruptions or levels G11C5/148 takes precedence; Switching between alternative supplies G11C5/141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/145 Applications of charge pumps; Boosted voltage circuits; Clamp circuits therefor G11C5/141 takes precedence

Abstract

An internal voltage supplying device. A reference voltage generator generates a first feedback voltage having a predetermined voltage ratio with respect to a core voltage. An adjusting mechanism adjusts the voltage ratio, and a voltage generator supplies a high voltage having a level higher than a level of the core voltage by the level of a threshold voltage or higher and maintains the level of the high voltage in accordance with the first feedback voltage.

Claims

1. An internal voltage supplying device, comprising:

a reference voltage generating unit for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined voltage ratio with respect to a core voltage by dividing a level of the core voltage in response to a selection signal;

an adjusting unit for decoding test mode signals or signals corresponding to blowing states of fuses to generate the selection signal for adjusting the voltage ratio; and

a voltage generating unit for supplying a high voltage having a level higher than the level of the core voltage by a threshold voltage or higher and for maintaining the level of the high voltage corresponding to the reference voltage.

2. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage generating unit comprises:

a dividing unit to divide the core voltage into various levels and to output a plurality of dividing voltages; and

a selection unit to select one of the dividing voltages in response to the selection signal, and to output the selected dividing voltage as the reference voltage.

3. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 2, wherein the dividing comprises a plurality of resistors coupled in series to output voltages caught on each connect node of the resistors as the dividing voltages.

4. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 3, the dividing unit further comprises a plurality of capacitors coupled to connect the nodes of the resistors, respectively.

5. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a decoder to decode the test mode signals and output the selection signal based on a decoded result.

6. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit comprises:

a plurality of fuse option units, each fuse option unit comprising the fuse; and

a decoder to decode the signals corresponding to blowing states of the fuses of the fuse option units and to output the selection signal based on a decoded result.

7. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit comprises:

a setup unit to generate a plurality of setup signals based on the signals corresponding to the blowing states of the fuses and the test mode signals; and

a decoder to decode the setup signals to output the selection signal.

8. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 7, wherein the setup unit comprises:

a plurality of NOR gates each having an output signal of a respective fuse option unit and a respective test mode signal as inputs; and

a plurality of inverters to invert output signals of the NOR gates to output the setup signals.

9. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 1, wherein the voltage generating unit comprises:

a level sensing unit to sense the level of he high voltage with respect to the reference voltage to output a level signal;

an oscillation signal generating unit o generate an oscillation signal in response to the level signal; and

a pumping unit pumping to charge during an activation interval of the oscillation signal to output the high voltage.

10. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 9, wherein the level sensing unit comprises:

a feedback unit to divide the high voltage to output a feedback voltage;

a comparator to compare the feedback voltage with the reference voltage; and

a buffer to buffer an output signal of the comparator to output the level signal.

11. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 10, wherein the comparator comprises a differential amplifier having the feedback voltage and the reference voltage as differential inputs.

12. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 11, wherein the feedback unit comprises first and second resistors coupled in series and is to output a voltage caught on a connect node of the first second resistors as the feedback voltage.

13. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 12, wherein the resistors comprise a passive device.

14. The internal voltage supplying device of claim 12, wherein the resistors comprise a transistor.

15. A method for operating an internal voltage supplying device, comprising:

generating a reference voltage having a first predetermined voltage ratio with respect to a core voltage by dividing a level of the core voltage in response to a selection signal;

generating a feedback voltage having a second predetermined voltage ratio with respect to a high voltage, wherein the first predetermined voltage ratios are controlled by decoding test mode signals or signals corresponding to blowing states of fuses; and

generating the high voltage having a level raised higher than a level of the core voltage by the level of a threshold voltage or higher, while maintaining a level of the feedback voltage corresponding to the reference voltage, wherein the core voltage is used for storing data of a logic level in a cell, and the is high voltage is used for activating the cell to allow the data to be transferred.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the maintaining of the level of the feedback voltage to correspond to the reference voltage comprises:

comparing the level of the feedback voltage with the reference voltage; and

performing a charge pumping to raise the level of the feedback voltage when the feedback voltage is lower than the reference voltage.