• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.625-640
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• 2023

This paper propose a circuit that can measure the inductance of an inductive sensor used in IOT applications. The circuit was constructed using the characteristics of an RL low-pass filter circuit, comparator, current control switch, and capacitor, and the inductance value within the range 1[nH] < L ≤ 1[H] can be derived through the duration time during the output voltage of the RL low-pass filter circuit is greater than the reference voltage.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1455-1462
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• 2012

In this paper, a BCD process based high-reliability 24-bit dual-port eFuse OTP Memory for PMICs is designed. We propose a comparison circuit at program-verify-read mode to test that the program datum is correct by using a dynamic pseudo NMOS logic circuit. The comparison result of the program datum with its read datum is outputted to PFb (pass fail bar) pin. Thus, the normal operation of the designed OTP memory can be verified easily by checking the PFb pin. Also we propose a sensing margin test circuit with a variable pull-up load out of consideration for resistance variations of programmed eFuse at program-verify-read mode. We design a 24-bit eFuse OTP memory which uses Magnachip's $0.35{\mu}m$ BCD process, and the layout size is $289.9{\mu}m{\times}163.65{\mu}m$ ($=0.0475mm^2$).

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.300-308
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• 2010

This paper describes the development of a low-power electrocardiogram (ECG) touch sensor intended for the use with two dry metal electrodes. An equivalent ECG extraction circuit model encountered in a ground-free two-electrode configuration is investigated for an optimal sensor read-out circuit design criteria. From the equivalent circuit model, (1) maximum sensor resolution is derived based on the electrode's background thermal noise, which originates from high electrode-skin contact impedance, together with the input referred noise of instrumentation amplifier (IA), (2) 60 Hz electrostatic coupling from mains and motion artifact are also considered to determine minimum requirement of common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) and input impedance of IA. A dedicated ECG read-out front end incorporating chopping scheme is introduced to provide an input referred circuit noise of 1.3 ${\mu}V_{rms}$ over 0.5 Hz ~ 200 Hz, CMRR of IA > 100 dB, sensor resolution of 7 bits, and dissipating only 36 ${\mu}W$. Together with 8 bits synchronous successive approximation register (SAR) ADC, the sensor IC chip is implemented in 0.18 ${\mu}m$ CMOS technology and integrated on a 5 cm $\times$ 8 cm PCB with two copper patterned electrodes. With the help of proposed touch sensor, ECG signal containing QRS complex and P, T waves are successfully extracted by simply touching the electrodes with two thumbs.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2020

In this study, a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) that can be applied to a colorimetry-based optical sensor for analyzing total phosphorus and total nitrogen was developed and characterized. The proposed ROIC minimizes the effect on temperature fluctuation, improves sensitivity, and extends the dynamic range by utilizing a dual optical path and feedback control circuit. Using a dual optical path makes it possible to calibrate the output signal of the optical sensor automatically, along with the temperature fluctuation. The calibrated voltage is fed back into the measurement stage; thus, the output current of the measurement is adaptively controlled. As a result, the sensitivity and dynamic range of the proposed ROIC are improved. Finally, a total-phosphorus analysis was conducted by utilizing the ROIC. The ROIC was found to operate stably over a wide temperature range.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2002

We propose a novel sensing circuit for 2T-2MTJ MRAM that can be used for high speed synchronous operation. Proposed bit-line sense amplifier detects small voltage difference in bit-lines and develops it into rail-to-rail swing while maintaining small voltage difference on TMR cells. It is small enough to fit into each column that the whole data array on selected word line are activated as in DRAMs for high-speed read-out by changing column addresses only. We designed a 256Kb read-only MRAM in a $0.35\mu\textrm{m}$ logic technology to verify the new sensing scheme. Simulation result shows a 25ns RAS access time and a cycle time shorter than 10 ns.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.76-78
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• 2003

We have designed and tested an RSFQ (Rapid Single Flux Quantum) NDRO (Non Destructive Read Out) circuit for the development of a high speed superconducting ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit). When designing the NDRO circuit, we used Julia, XIC and Lmeter for the circuit simulations and layouts. We obtained the simulation margins of larger than $\pm$25％. For the tests of NDRO operations, we attached the three DC/SFQ circuits and two SFQ/DC circuits to the NDRO circuit. In tests, we used an input frequency of 1 KHz to generate SFQ Pulses from DC/SFQ circuit. We measured the operation bias margin of NDRO to be $\pm$15％. The circuit was measured at the liquid helium temperature.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.309-314
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• 2021

The proposed preamplifier for the static random access memory reduces the time required for the sense amplifier enable during the read operation by 55%, which leads to a significant speed up the total spped. This is attirbuted to the novel circuit techqniue that cancels out the transistor mismatch which is induced by the process variation. In addition, a selective enable circuit for preamplifier circuit is proposed, so the proposed preamplifier is enabled only when it is required. Accordingly the energy overhead is limited below 4.45%.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2007

This work presents a low-voltage static random access memory (SRAM) technique based on a dual-boosted cell array. For each read/write cycle, the wordline and cell power node of selected SRAM cells are boosted into two different voltage levels. This technique enhances the read static noise margin to a sufficient level without an increase in cell size. It also improves the SRAM circuit speed due to an increase in the cell read-out current. A 0.18 ${\mu}m$ CMOS 256-kbit SRAM macro is fabricated with the proposed technique, which demonstrates 0.8 V operation with 50 MHz while consuming 65 ${\mu}W$/MHz. It also demonstrates an 87% bit error rate reduction while operating with a 43% higher clock frequency compared with that of conventional SRAM.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2011

In this paper, we design a 1-kb OTP (Onetime programmable) memory IP in consideration of BCD process based EM (Electro-migration) and resistance variations of eFuse. We propose a method of precharging BL to VSS before activation of RWL (Read word-line) and an optimized design of read NMOS transistor to reduce read current through a non-programmed cell. Also, we propose a sensing margin test circuit with a variable pull-up load out of consideration for resistance variations of programmed eFuse. Peak current through the non-programmed eFuse is reduced from 728 ${\mu}A$ to 61 ${\mu}A$ when a simulation is done in the read mode. Furthermore, BL (Bit-line) sensing is possible even if sensed resistance of eFuse has fallen by about 9 $k{\Omega}$ in a wafer read test through a variable pull-up load resistance of BL S/A (Sense amplifier).

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.2359-2368
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• 2013

In this paper, an IRD (internal read data) circuit preventing the reentry into the read mode while keeping the read-out DOUT datum at power-up even if noise such as glitches occurs at signal ports such as an input signal port RD (read) when a power IC is on, is proposed. Also, a pulsed WL (word line) driving method is used to prevent a DC current of several tens of micro amperes from flowing into the read transistor of a differential paired eFuse OTP cell. Thus, reliability is secured by preventing non-blown eFuse links from being blown by the EM (electro-migration). Furthermore, a compared output between a programmed datum and a read-out datum is outputted to the PFb (pass fail bar) pin while performing a sensing margin test with a variable pull-up load in consideration of resistance variation of a programmed eFuse in the program-verify-read mode. The layout size of the 8-bit eFuse OTP IP with a $0.18{\mu}m$ process is $189.625{\mu}m{\times}138.850{\mu}m(=0.0263mm^2)$.