# Patent

## Title
Method and apparatus for voltage regulation within an integrated circuit

## Abstract

Method and apparatus for regulating voltage within an integrated circuit is described. For example, a voltage regulator receives a first reference voltage and produces a regulated voltage. A comparator includes a first input for receiving a second reference voltage and a second input for receiving the regulated voltage. The comparator includes an offset voltage. The comparator produces a control signal indicative of whether the difference between the second reference voltage and the regulated voltage is greater than a predetermined offset voltage. A clamp circuit clamps the regulated voltage to the second reference voltage in response to the control signal. In another example, the clamp circuit is removed and a multiplexer selects either a first reference voltage or a second reference voltage to be coupled to a voltage regulator. The multiplexer is controlled via output of a comparator that compares the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage.

## Background
This application is a division of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 120 from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/354,560, filed Jan. 30, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,722 B1 issued on Jun. 22, 2004.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
One or more aspects of the present invention relate generally to voltage regulation within an integrated circuit and, more particularly, to regulation of switch circuit gate voltage within a programmable logic device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Programmable logic devices (PLDs) exist as a well-known type of integrated circuit (IC) that may be programmed by a user to perform specified logic functions. There are different types of programmable logic devices, such as programmable logic arrays (PLAs) and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). One type of programmable logic devices, known as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), is very popular because of a superior combination of capacity, flexibility, time-to-market, and cost.
An FPGA typically includes an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) surrounded by a ring of programmable input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLBs and IOBs are interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure. The CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect structure are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data (bitstream) into internal configuration memory cells that define how the CLBs, IOBs, and interconnect structure are configured. The configuration bitstream may be read from an external memory, conventionally an external integrated circuit memory EEPROM, EPROM, PROM, and the like, though other types of memory may be used. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
The programmable interconnect structure typically includes switch circuits (also known as switch boxes) for interconnecting the various logic blocks within an FPGA. Switch circuits generally include pass transistors for forming programmable connections between input/output lines of logic blocks in response to a gate voltage. A voltage regulator provides and regulates the gate voltage that drives the gates of the pass transistors. As is well known in the art, the speed of propagation of a signal through such a switch circuit improves with higher gate voltage applied to the gates of the pass transistors.
One method employed by others to provide relatively high gate voltage to pass transistors in a switch circuit is to clamp the gate voltage to an internal supply source, Vcc, when the internal supply source rises above a target gate voltage. However, known voltage regulators are susceptible to one or more of intrinsic voltage offsets caused by process variations and differences in physical layout of the voltage regulator components, though such physical layout may be intended to be symmetric. One or more of these intrinsic voltage offsets may cause the voltage regulator to become unstable thereby producing oscillations in the output voltage, for example.
Accordingly, it would be both desirable and useful to provide a method and apparatus for voltage regulation within an IC that is less susceptible to one or more intrinsic voltage offsets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Method and apparatus for voltage regulation within an integrated circuit is described. In an embodiment in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention, a voltage regulator receives a first reference voltage and provides a regulated voltage. A comparator includes a first input to receive a second reference voltage and a second input to receive the regulated voltage. The comparator includes an offset voltage. The comparator provides a control signal indicative of whether the difference between the second reference voltage and the regulated voltage is greater than the offset voltage. A voltage clamp circuit clamps the regulated voltage to the second reference voltage in response to the control signal.
In another embodiment in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention, a comparator compares a first reference voltage with a second reference voltage. The comparator provides a control signal indicative of which of the first reference signal and the second reference signal is greater. A multiplexer provides either the first reference voltage or the second reference voltage as output in response to the control signal. A regulator receives the output of the multiplexer and provides a regulated voltage.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Accompanying drawing(s) show exemplary embodiment(s) in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention; however, the accompanying drawing(s) should not be taken to limit the invention to the embodiment(s) shown, but are for explanation and understanding only.
FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram showing an exemplary portion of a programmable logic device in which one or more aspects of the invention are useful;
FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a voltage regulator in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention; and
FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a voltage regulator in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Method and apparatus for voltage regulation within an integrated circuit (IC) is described. One or more aspects in accordance with the invention are described in terms of gate voltage regulation of pass transistors within a programmable logic device (PLD). While specific reference is made to regulating gate voltage of pass transistors, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more aspects of the invention may be used to regulate other voltages used for various applications within an IC device.
FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram showing a portion of an exemplary PLD 100. PLD 100 is illustratively shown as including logic blocks 102A through 102D (collectively referred to as logic blocks 102), and switch circuits 104. Logic blocks 102 comprise CLBs, IOBs, or like type well-known circuits. Switch circuits 104 comprise one or more pass transistors, memory cells, and multiplexer circuits, as is well known in the art. Logic blocks 102 are programmably connectable by configuring switch circuits 104 in a well-known manner. An exemplary embodiment of switch circuit 104 is illustratively shown as including a pass transistor 106 and a memory cell 108. Memory cell 108 is coupled to the gate of pass transistor 106 for activating or deactivating pass transistor 106. Pass transistor 106 comprises, for example, an NMOS or a PMOS transistor. Memory cell 108 comprises, for example, SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, antifuse pull-up or pull-down circuits, or any other type of well-known programmable memory cell.
If pass transistor 106 is activated, line L2 is coupled to line L1, and thus logic block 102D is coupled to logic block 102A. Otherwise, when pass transistor 106 is deactivated, line L2 is not coupled to line L1. Memory cell 108 drives the gate of pass transistor 106 with a gate voltage Vgg for activation/deactivation. Memory cell 108 receives gate voltage Vgg from a voltage regulator 110. Voltage regulator 110 is coupled to a voltage source 112, which produces a reference voltage Vref. Reference voltage Vref is a target gate voltage, or a fraction of a target gate voltage, for pass transistor 106 and is regulated by voltage regulator 110 to provide gate voltage Vgg.
FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a voltage regulation circuit 200 in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention. Voltage regulation circuit 200 may be used as voltage regulator 110 shown in FIG. 1 and is described in this context. Voltage regulation circuit 200 includes a reference voltage terminal Vref 203, a gate voltage terminal Vgg 208, a supply voltage terminal Vcc 210, a voltage regulator 202, a clamp circuit 204, and a comparator 206. Voltage regulator 202 and comparator 206 are circuits known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, clamp circuit 204 is a PMOS transistor, as shown in FIG. 2, whose gate is coupled to CTL 213, and whose source and drain are respectively coupled to Vcc 210 and Vgg 208. However, other embodiments may be used for or in clamp circuit 204, including an NMOS transistor instead of a PMOS transistor or another clamp circuit known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Reference voltage terminal Vref 203 is provided a reference voltage Vref; supply voltage terminal Vcc 210 is provided a supply voltage Vcc; and gate voltage terminal Vgg 208 provides a gate voltage Vgg. Reference voltage Vref is a target voltage level, or a fraction of a target voltage level, for gate voltage Vgg.
Inputs of voltage regulator 202 are respectively coupled to reference voltage terminal Vref 203 and gate voltage terminal Vgg 208. An output of voltage regulator 202 is coupled to gate voltage terminal Vgg 208. Voltage regulator 202 operates in a well-known manner. Voltage regulator 202 produces gate voltage Vgg responsive to reference voltage Vref. When the level of gate voltage Vgg drops below the level of reference voltage Vref (or a fraction thereof), regulator 202 increases the level of gate voltage Vgg.
Inputs of comparator 206 are respectively coupled to supply voltage terminal Vcc 210 and gate voltage terminal Vgg 208. Comparator 206 includes a control terminal CTL 213. Comparator 206 produces a control signal CTL at control terminal CTL 213 responsive to supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg. Comparator 206 includes a built-in offset voltage Voffset, which affects the trip point of comparator 206. The trip point of comparator 206 is the point at which the difference between supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg causes a change of state of control signal CTL. Instead of a trip point of zero, the trip point is set to Voffset, which can be a positive or a negative offset voltage. That is, comparator 206 drives control signal CTL to a first state if the difference between supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg is greater than offset voltage Voffset (Vcc−Vgg>Voffset). Comparator drives control signal CTL to a second state if the difference between supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg is less than offset voltage Voffset (Vcc−Vgg<Voffset).
As described in more detail below, magnitude of offset voltage Voffset is selected to be greater than an intrinsic offset voltage of comparator 206. In an embodiment, offset voltage Voffset is a fixed parameter. For example, an offset can be built into comparator 206 by intentionally mismatching the sizes of transistors of comparator 206 that are coupled to the input terminals of comparator 206. Alternatively, offset voltage Voffset may be programmably adjusted during operation of voltage regulation circuit 200 by programmably selecting a different amount of mismatch between the sizes of transistors of comparator 206 that are coupled to input terminals of comparator 206.
Inputs of clamp circuit 204 are respectively coupled to control terminal CTL 213 and supply voltage terminal Vcc 210. An output of clamp circuit 204 is coupled to gate voltage terminal Vgg 208. If activated, clamp circuit 204 causes gate voltage Vgg to follow supply voltage Vgg. Activation of clamp circuit 204 is responsive to control signal CTL.
In operation, the voltage level of reference voltage Vref is selected to be a target voltage level (or some fraction of a target voltage level) for gate voltage Vgg. Voltage regulation circuit 200 has two modes of operation. In a first mode, supply voltage Vcc is less than a sum of gate voltage Vgg and offset voltage Voffset (i.e., Vcc<Vgg+Voffset). In a second mode, supply voltage Vcc is greater than a sum of gate voltage Vgg and offset voltage Voffset (i.e., Vcc>Vgg+Voffset). Stated differently, the difference between supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg is compared with offset voltage Voffset. In the first mode (Vcc<Vgg+Voffset), the difference is less than offset voltage Voffset. In the second mode (Vcc>Vgg+Voffset), the difference is greater than offset voltage Voffset.
In the first mode (Vcc<Vgg+Voffset), voltage regulation circuit 200 causes gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref. Thus, as long as supply voltage Vcc remains below the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg plus offset voltage Voffset, voltage regulation circuit 200 will cause gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref.
In the second mode (Vcc>μg+Voffset), voltage regulation circuit 200 causes gate voltage Vgg to instead follow supply voltage Vcc, which is now above the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg. In particular, supply voltage Vcc is above the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg by an amount equal to offset voltage Voffset. Thus, as long as supply voltage Vcc remains above the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg by an amount equal to offset voltage Voffset, voltage regulation circuit 200 will cause gate voltage Vgg to follow supply voltage Vcc instead of reference voltage Vref. This allows voltage regulation circuit 200 to produce as high as possible gate voltage Vgg.
Moreover, comparator 206 compares supply voltage Vcc with a sum of gate voltage Vgg and offset voltage Voffset. If supply voltage Vcc is less than the sum of gate voltage Vgg and offset voltage Voffset, then comparator 206 drives control signal CTL to an inactive state (e.g., logically low in an active high embodiment). If control signal CTL 213 is in an inactive state, clamp circuit 204 is not active and does not clamp gate voltage Vgg to the voltage level of supply voltage Vcc. Voltage regulator 202 thus causes gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref. That is, if gate voltage Vgg falls below reference voltage Vref (or some fraction thereof), voltage regulator 202 increases gate voltage Vgg.
If supply voltage Vcc is greater than gate voltage Vgg by an amount equal to Voffset, then comparator 206 drives control signal CTL 213 to an active state (e.g., logically high in an active high embodiment). If control signal CTL 213 is in the active state, clamp circuit 204 is active and clamps gate voltage Vgg to the voltage level of supply voltage Vcc. In this case, supply voltage Vcc is greater than reference voltage Vref by definition. Since gate voltage Vgg is higher than reference voltage Vref, voltage regulator 202 does not actively regulate gate voltage Vgg.
Offset voltage Voffset allows voltage regulation circuit 200 to be less susceptible to an intrinsic offset within comparator 206 caused by, for example, random process variations. For example, random process variations during fabrication of comparator 206 may cause an intrinsic offset approximately between plus and minus five millivolts (±5 mV) to affect the trip point. Without a built-in offset voltage Voffset, a slightly negative intrinsic offset within comparator 206 can cause voltage regulation circuit 200 to become unstable. Specifically, an uncompensated intrinsic offset voltage results in both clamp circuit 204 and voltage regulator 202 being active at the same time, which could result in undesirable oscillations in gate voltage Vgg. That is, voltage regulator 202 will begin over-regulate to compensate for current drawn by clamp circuit 204. If claim circuit 204 deactivates, voltage regulator 202 will continue to over-regulate for some time, resulting in oscillations of gate voltage Vgg.
By building in offset voltage Voffset to comparator 206, voltage regulation circuit 200 will maintain stability. For example, in an embodiment, offset voltage Voffset is a positive voltage greater than the expected value of the intrinsic offset of comparator 206 (e.g., 50 mV). When clamp circuit 204 is actively clamping gate voltage Vgg to the level of supply voltage Vcc, a drop in supply voltage Vcc below the sum of gate voltage Vgg and offset voltage Voffset will cause clamp circuit 204 to be deactivated. Regulator circuit 202 also remains inactive until such time as gate voltage Vgg drops below reference voltage Vref (or some fraction thereof). In this manner, a situation where both regulator 202 and clamp circuit 204 are active at the same time may be avoided (i.e., when Vgg>Vcc).
Offset voltage Voffset may be built into comparator 206 to affect the trip point. In the above example, offset voltage Voffset is positive. As an alternative, offset voltage Voffset may be negative. In each embodiment, comparator 206 is comparing offset voltage Voffset with the difference between supply voltage Vcc and gate voltage Vgg.
FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a voltage regulation apparatus 300 in accordance with one or more aspects of the invention. Voltage regulation apparatus 300 may be used as voltage regulator 110 shown in FIG. 1. Voltage regulation apparatus 300 comprises a reference voltage terminal Vref 303, a supply voltage terminal Vcc 305, a gate voltage terminal Vgg 307, a voltage regulator 306, a multiplexer 304, and a comparator 302. Reference voltage terminal Vref 303 is provided a reference voltage Vref; supply voltage terminal Vcc 305 is provided a supply voltage Vcc; and gate voltage terminal Vgg 307 provides a gate voltage Vgg. Reference voltage Vref is a target voltage level, or a fraction of a target voltage level, for gate voltage Vgg.
Inputs of comparator 302 are respectively coupled to reference voltage terminal Vref 303 and supply voltage terminal Vcc 305. Comparator 302 includes a control terminal CTL 313. Comparator 302 produces a control signal CTL on control terminal CTL 313 responsive to reference voltage Vref and supply voltage Vcc. Control signal CTL is in a first state if Vref is greater than Vcc. Control signal CTL is in a second state if Vref is less than Vcc.
Inputs of multiplexer 304 are respectively coupled to reference voltage terminal Vref 303 and supply voltage terminal Vcc 305. A control terminal of multiplexer 304 is coupled to control terminal CTL 313. Multiplexer 304 includes an output terminal Vnew—ref 314. Multiplexer 304 produces a new reference voltage Vnew—ref on output terminal Vnew—ref 314 responsive to control signal CTL.
Inputs of voltage regulator 306 are respectively coupled to output terminal Vnewref 314 and gate voltage terminal Vgg 307. An output of voltage regulator 306 is coupled to gate voltage terminal Vgg 307. Voltage regulator 306 produces a gate voltage Vgg responsive to new reference voltage Vnew—ref.
In operation, the level of reference voltage Vref is selected to be the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg. Voltage regulation apparatus 300 has two modes of operation. In a first mode, supply voltage Vcc is less than reference voltage Vref (i.e., Vcc<Vref). In a second mode, supply voltage Vcc is greater than reference voltage Vref (i.e., Vcc>Vref). In the first mode (Vcc<Vref), voltage regulation apparatus 300 causes gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref, which is the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg. Thus, if supply voltage Vcc remains below the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg, voltage regulation apparatus 300 will cause gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref.
In the second mode (Vcc>Vref), voltage regulation apparatus 300 causes gate voltage Vgg to instead follow supply voltage Vcc, which is now above the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg. Thus, if supply voltage Vcc remains above the target voltage level for gate voltage Vgg, voltage regulation apparatus 300 will cause gate voltage Vgg to follow supply voltage Vcc instead of reference voltage Vref. This allows voltage regulation apparatus 300 to produce as high as possible gate voltage Vgg.
More specifically, comparator 302 compares reference voltage Vref with supply voltage Vcc. When supply voltage Vcc is greater than reference voltage Vref, comparator 302 drives control signal CTL to cause multiplexer 304 to select supply voltage Vcc. When supply voltage Vcc is less than reference voltage Vref, comparator 302 drives control signal CTL to cause multiplexer 304 to select reference voltage Vref. If multiplexer 304 selects supply voltage Vcc, new reference voltage Vnew—ref 314 equals supply voltage Vcc. Voltage regulator 306 then causes gate voltage Vgg to follow supply voltage Vcc. When multiplexer 304 selects reference voltage Vref, new reference voltage Vnew—ref 314 equals reference voltage Vref. Voltage regulator 306 then causes gate voltage Vgg to follow reference voltage Vref. In this manner, voltage regulation apparatus 300 does not require an additional clamp circuit. Voltage regulation apparatus 300 eliminates the problem caused by the interaction of a regulator and a clamp circuit attempting to control voltage level on a single node.
In addition, although voltage regulation circuit 200 of FIG. 2 solves the problem of large oscillations in gate voltage Vgg due to voltage regulator 202 and clamp circuit 204 being active at the same time, voltage regulation circuit 200 causes small oscillations in gate voltage Vgg. Specifically, the intentional offset voltage Voffset built into comparator 206 will prevent clamp circuit 204 from keeping gate voltage Vgg equal to supply voltage Vcc. If gate voltage Vgg is less than the difference between supply voltage Vcc and offset voltage Voffset, clamp circuit 204 activates and gate voltage Vgg will approach supply voltage Vcc very rapidly. However, gate voltage Vgg will not equal supply voltage Vcc for long, since clamp circuit 204 deactivates after gate voltage Vgg is greater than the difference between supply voltage Vcc and offset voltage Voffset. Clamp circuit 204 continues to activate and deactivate, causing gate voltage Vgg to oscillate approximately between supply voltage Vcc and the difference between supply voltage Vcc and offset voltage Voffset. A circuit receiving gate voltage Vgg can function property with these small oscillations as compared to the large oscillations produced if clamp circuit 204 and voltage regulator 202 are both active at the same time.
Voltage regulation apparatus 300 of FIG. 3, however, avoids producing even small oscillations in gate voltage Vgg. Specifically, intrinsic voltage offsets within comparator 302 or voltage regulator 306 will not produce oscillations in gate voltage Vgg. Rather, such intrinsic voltage offsets will merely shift the final voltage level of gate voltage Vgg by a small amount.
While the foregoing describes exemplary embodiment(s) in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, other and further embodiment(s) in accordance with the one or more aspects of the present invention may be devised without departing from the scope thereof, which is determined by the claim(s) that follow and equivalents thereof. Claim(s) listing steps do not imply any order of the steps.

## Claims

1. A voltage regulation apparatus, comprising:
a comparator having a first input to receive a first reference voltage, a second input to receive a second reference voltage, and an output to provide a control signal indicative of which of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage is greater;
a multiplexer, having an output to produce either the first reference voltage or the second reference voltage responsive to the control signal
a voltage regulator having an input coupled to the output of the multiplexer and an output to produce a regulated voltage; and
wherein the first reference voltage has a substantially constant voltage level and the second reference voltage includes a supply voltage that increases from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, wherein the second voltage level is substantially greater than the substantially constant voltage level.

2. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulated voltage is coupled to a transistor gate of a switch circuit within a programmable logic device and wherein the substantially constant voltage level is a user selected constant target gate voltage or fraction thereof of the transistor gate.

3. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second reference voltage is a supply voltage within the programmable logic device and when the supply voltage exceeds the substantially constant voltage level, the regulated voltage is equal to the supply voltage and wherein the regulated voltage is not less than the substantially constant voltage level.

4. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator comprise another input which is coupled to the output.

5. A method of regulating voltage, comprising:
comparing a first reference voltage with a second reference voltage;
selecting a greater of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage to provide a selected voltage;
producing a regulated voltage in response to the selected voltage; and
wherein the first reference voltage has a substantially constant voltage level and the second reference voltage includes a supply voltage that increases from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, the second voltage level being substantially greater than the substantially constant voltage level.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
providing a programmable logic device having a switch circuit; and
coupling the regulated voltage to the switch circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the supply voltage increases from the first voltage level to the second voltage level within the programmable logic device; and
wherein when the supply voltage increases above the first reference voltage, the regulated voltage is equal to the supply voltage, otherwise the regulated voltage is equal to the first reference voltage.

8. A voltage regulation apparatus, comprising:
a first reference voltage input, wherein the first reference voltage input is coupled to a substantially constant reference voltage;
a second reference voltage input, the second reference voltage input having a portion of a voltage range, starting below the substantially constant reference voltage and then increasing above a maximum voltage level of the substantially constant reference voltage;
a reference voltage output;
a comparator coupled to the first reference voltage input and the second reference voltage input, the comparator having a comparator output;
a multiplexer coupled to the first reference voltage input and the second reference voltage input, the multiplexer coupled to the comparator output, the multiplexer having a multiplexer output;
a voltage regulator coupled to the multiplexer output and the reference voltage output.

9. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reference voltage output is coupled to a memory cell coupled to a gate of a pass transistor in a programmable logic device.

10. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second reference voltage output is coupled to a supply voltage of the programmable logic device and wherein when the supply voltage increases from a first voltage less than the first reference voltage to a second voltage greater than the first reference voltage, the multiplexer output changes from the first reference voltage to the second voltage.

11. The voltage regulation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the constant reference voltage is for a pass transistor target voltage level for a regulated voltage of a field programmable gate array.