Process monitoring circuit and method
First Claim
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1. A process monitoring circuit, comprising:
- a bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a bandgap reference voltage;
a clock generator configured to generate a first clock;
a negative bias circuit coupled between the bandgap reference circuit and the clock generator and configured to generate a negative bias voltage according to the bandgap reference voltage for stabilizing operation of the clock generator;
a temperature insensitive oscillator configured to generate a second clock;
a low dropout voltage regulator coupled to the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to generate a zero temperature coefficient voltage for stabilizing operation of the temperature insensitive oscillator;
a counter coupled to the clock generator and the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to count number of pulses of the second clock within each duty cycle of the first clock so as to generate a counted number;
a comparison circuit coupled to the counter and configured to compare the counted number with at least one reference number to generate a comparison result; and
a charge pump coupled to the comparison circuit and configured to generate an output voltage according to the comparison result.
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Abstract
A process monitoring circuit may be used to determine appropriate voltage for integrated circuits including a non-volatile memory. The process monitoring circuit includes a bandgap reference, a clock generator, a negative bias circuit, a temperature insensitive oscillator, a low dropout voltage regulator, a counter, a comparison circuit, and a charge. The process monitoring circuit may also include a pulse width generator. The process monitoring circuit is able to determine the process corner of which a monitored circuit belongs to and generate an output voltage according to the process corner of the monitored circuit.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process monitoring circuit, comprising:
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a bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a bandgap reference voltage; a clock generator configured to generate a first clock; a negative bias circuit coupled between the bandgap reference circuit and the clock generator and configured to generate a negative bias voltage according to the bandgap reference voltage for stabilizing operation of the clock generator; a temperature insensitive oscillator configured to generate a second clock; a low dropout voltage regulator coupled to the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to generate a zero temperature coefficient voltage for stabilizing operation of the temperature insensitive oscillator; a counter coupled to the clock generator and the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to count number of pulses of the second clock within each duty cycle of the first clock so as to generate a counted number; a comparison circuit coupled to the counter and configured to compare the counted number with at least one reference number to generate a comparison result; and a charge pump coupled to the comparison circuit and configured to generate an output voltage according to the comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A process monitoring circuit, comprising:
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a bandgap reference circuit configured to generate a bandgap reference voltage; a clock generator configured to generate a first clock; a negative bias circuit coupled between the bandgap reference circuit and the clock generator and configured to generate a negative bias voltage according to the bandgap reference voltage for stabilizing operation of the clock generator; a pulse width generator coupled to the clock generator and configured to generate a third clock according to the first clock; a temperature insensitive oscillator configured to generate a second clock; a low dropout voltage regulator coupled to the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to generate a zero temperature coefficient voltage for stabilizing operation of the temperature insensitive oscillator; a counter coupled to the pulse width generator and the temperature insensitive oscillator and configured to count number of pulses of the second clock within each duty cycle of the third clock so as to generate a counted number; a comparison circuit coupled to the counter and configured to compare the counted number with at least one reference number to generate a comparison result; and a charge pump coupled to the comparison circuit and configured to generate an output voltage according to the comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process monitoring method comprising:
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generating a bandgap reference voltage; generating a negative bias voltage according to the bandgap reference voltage; generating a first reference current for a clock generator according to the negative bias voltage; generating a first clock according to the first reference current; generating a zero temperature coefficient voltage according to the negative bias voltage; generating a second clock by a temperature insensitive oscillator according to the zero temperature coefficient voltage; generating a counted number according to the first clock and the second clock; comparing the counted number with at least one reference number to generate a comparison result; and generating an output voltage according to the comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification