Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Specific identifiable device – circuit – or system – With specific source of supply or bias voltage
Patent
1995-11-15
1996-09-03
Callahan, Timothy P.
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Specific identifiable device, circuit, or system
With specific source of supply or bias voltage
327530, 327561, 327312, G05F 110
Patent
active
055527396
ABSTRACT:
A power supply for an integrated circuit has a piecewise linear operating characteristic for improved integrated circuit testing and screening. In an integrated circuit that receives an externally applied power signal, designated V.sub.CCX, and includes a power supply for generating an internal operating voltage, designated V.sub.CCR, an on-chip power supply circuit provides V.sub.CCR as a piecewise linear function of V.sub.CCX. In a first segment of such a function, V.sub.CCR approximates V.sub.CCX for efficient low voltage operations. In a second segment, used for normal operations of the integrated circuit, V.sub.CCR rises gradually with V.sub.CCX so that test results at the edges of the segment can be guaranteed with a margin for measurement tolerance, process variation, and derating. In a third segment, V.sub.CCR follows below V.sub.CCX at a predetermined constant offset. Transitions between segments are smooth due to nonlinear devices used in the power supply circuitry. When used in a dynamic random access memory integrated circuit, operation in the first segment provides data retention at low power consumption. Operation in the second segment supports speed grading individual devices with a margin for properly stating memory performance specifications. Operation in the third segment supports screening at elevated temperatures for identifying weak and defective memory devices.
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Casper Stephen L.
Keeth Brent
Shirley Brian M.
Zagar Paul S.
Callahan Timothy P.
Kim Jung Ho
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
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