Direct Current-to-Digital Conversion for Accurate Power Switch Monitoring
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Summary
Problems
Existing systems face challenges in directly converting an analog current from a driver to a digital representation without first converting it into an analog voltage, which can introduce errors and require external components, leading to increased noise and interference.
Innovation solutions
A device comprising a main switching element, a regulation loop, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that generates a sense current proportional to the load current and directly converts it into a digital sense current value, eliminating the need for intermediate voltage conversion.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If an analog current is converted into an analog voltage value before digital conversion, then the conversion can be performed using conventional ADCs, but measurement precision deteriorates due to introduced errors and noise
Why choose this principle:
The patent uses a sense current as an intermediary quantity that directly represents the load current through a known relationship, allowing the ADC to measure current without converting to voltage first. The sense current is generated by a sense amplifier that copies the load current, and this current is then directly digitized by the ADC, eliminating the need for voltage conversion and associated errors.
Principle concept:
If an analog current is converted into an analog voltage value before digital conversion, then the conversion can be performed using conventional ADCs, but measurement precision deteriorates due to introduced errors and noise
Why choose this principle:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from voltage to current by using a current-mode ADC. Instead of converting the analog current to voltage and then to digital, the system directly converts the analog current (sense current) to digital using a current-mode conversion process, fundamentally changing the measurement parameter to maintain accuracy.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A device comprising a main switching element, a regulation loop, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that generates a sense current proportional to the load current and directly converts it into a digital sense current value, eliminating the need for intermediate voltage conversion.
Abstract
In one example, a method includes generating, by a main switching element of a device, a load current; generating, by a regulation loop of the device, a sense current proportional to the load current; directly converting, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the device, the sense current into a digital sense current value; and outputting, by the device and to an external device, a digital representation of the load current based on the digital sense current value.