System and method for voltage regulation of one-time-programmable (OTP) memory programming voltage
US9336896B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2015 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C17/16
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated circuit is provided that allows for the use of the same supply voltage pin to receive both a normal operating voltage for the integrated circuit (IC) and a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory program voltage sufficient to program an OTP memory located on the integrated circuit. In one embodiment, when an OTP programming voltage is received at a supply voltage pin of the IC, the OTP programming voltage is provided to the OTP memory of the integrated circuit and the OTP programming voltage is regulated to the normal operating voltage level prior to providing the voltage to the internal circuitry of the integrated circuit. As such, the present invention establishes a dual-purpose supply voltage pin, thereby eliminating the need for a separate OTP programming voltage pin on the integrated circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.