IP Library Granted Patent US 7,177,219
Granted Patent B1
US 7,177,219 · App. 11/187,643 · Granted Feb 13, 2007

Disabling clocked standby mode based on device temperature

Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,177,219
App. No.
11/187,643
Granted
Feb 13, 2007
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a voltage generator of a memory device are provided. A temperature of the memory device is measured. If the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, the memory device is allowed to be placed in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled with a clock signal. If the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, the memory device is prevented from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).

Claims (39)

1. A method for controlling a voltage generator for a memory device, the method comprising:

measuring a temperature of the memory device;

if the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, allowing the memory device to be placed in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled with a clock signal; and

if the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, preventing the memory device from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold range is any temperature above a threshold temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of the clock signal is chosen such that the voltage output by the generator does not fall below a threshold voltage within the period.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature range is chosen such that the temperature range includes temperatures at which the clock frequency is above a critical frequency.

5. A memory device comprising:

a voltage generation circuit configured to maintain a voltage;

a control circuit configured to selectively enabled the voltage generation circuit by:

measuring a temperature of the memory device;

if the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, placing the memory device in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled with a clock signal; and

if the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, preventing the memory device from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).

6. The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the threshold range is any temperature above a threshold temperature.

7. The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the period of the clock signal is chosen such that the voltage output by the voltage generation circuit does not fall below a threshold voltage within the period.

8. The memory device of claim 5 , wherein the temperature range is chosen such that the temperature range includes temperatures at which the clock frequency is above a critical frequency.

9. A method for controlling a voltage generator for a memory device, the method comprising:

disabling a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generator is selectively enabled in conjunction with a clock signal, if a measured temperature of the memory device is within a threshold temperature range.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein disabling the clocked standby mode comprises setting the clock signal to a low logic level while the measured temperature of the memory device is within the threshold temperature range.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature range is any temperature above a threshold temperature.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a period of the clock signal is chosen such that the voltage output by the generator does not fall below a threshold voltage within the period.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature range is chosen such that the temperature range includes temperatures at which a clock frequency of the clock signal is above a critical frequency.

14. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a voltage generation circuit; and

control circuitry configured to:

measure a temperature of the integrated circuit with the temperature sensor;

disable a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the voltage generation circuit is selectively enabled in conjunction with a clock signal, if a the measured temperature of the integrated circuit is within a threshold temperature range.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein disabling the clocked standby mode comprises setting the clock signal to a low logic level while the measured temperature of the memory device is within the threshold temperature range.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the threshold temperature range is any temperature above a threshold temperature.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein a period of the clock signal is chosen such that the voltage output by the voltage generation circuit does not fall below a threshold voltage within the period.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 14 , wherein the threshold temperature range is chosen such that the temperature range includes temperatures at which a clock frequency of the clock signal is above a critical frequency.

19. A memory device comprising:

a means for generating a voltage; and

a means for selectively enabling the means for generating by:

measuring a temperature of the memory device;

if the measured temperature is outside a threshold temperature range, placing the memory device in a clocked standby mode (CSM), whereby the means for generating is selectively enabled with a clock signal; and

if the measured temperature is within a threshold temperature range, preventing the memory device from being placed in the clocked standby mode (CSM).

20. The memory device of claim 19 , wherein the temperature range is chosen such that the temperature range includes temperatures at which the clock frequency is above a critical frequency.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2015
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
To: POLARIS INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036701/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2015
From: QIMONDA AG
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 035623/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2010
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
To: QIMONDA AG
Reel/Frame 023773/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SERIAL NUMBER AND TITLE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016379 FRAME 0445. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SERIAL NUMBER IS 11/187,643 AND THE CORRECT TITLE IS DISABLING CLOCKED STANDBY MODE BASED ON DEVICE TEMPERATURE. Recorded Aug 31, 2005
From: HERBERT, DAVID; HEILMANN, BEN; ALEXANDER, GEORGE; PARTSCH, TORSTEN
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA CORP.
Reel/Frame 016475/0333 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNORS AND TITLE OF THE INVENTION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016342 FRAME 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS TO INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA CORP.. Recorded Aug 10, 2005
From: HERBERT, DAVID; HEILMANN, BEN
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA CORP.
Reel/Frame 016379/0326 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2005
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA CORP.
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 016354/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2005
From: HERBERT, DAVID; HEILMANN, BEN; ALEXANDER, GEORGE; PARTSCH, TORSTEN
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA CORP.
Reel/Frame 016342/0335 →