System and method for voltage regulation of one-time-programmable (OTP) memory programming voltage

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of providing a programming voltage to a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
receiving an external voltage, having an external voltage level, at a supply voltage pin of an integrated circuit, the external voltage level equal to a normal operating voltage level for the integrated circuit or to an OTP programming voltage level for an OTP memory of the integrated circuit;
if the external voltage level received at the supply voltage pin is the normal operating voltage level for the integrated circuit, providing the external voltage to the OTP memory of the integrated circuit and to internal circuitry of the integrated circuit; andif the external voltage level received at the supply voltage pin is an OTP programming voltage level, providing the external voltage to the OTP memory of the integrated circuit and regulating the external voltage level to the normal operating voltage level of the integrated circuit to establish a normal operating voltage and providing the normal operating voltage to the internal circuitry of the integrated circuit.