Activate Circuit for RTC Battery Failure in Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with dead or damaged real-time clock (RTC) batteries cannot be activated when not connected to an external power supply, leading to user inconvenience and potential misperception of device failure.
Innovation Solution
An activate circuit comprising transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors that adjusts the activate signal to logic low level, enabling the battery module to power the device even without an external supply, and includes a warning mechanism like a light-emitting diode to indicate RTC battery issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the RTC battery is used to power the power button for activating the battery module, then the battery module can be activated when the electronic device is not connected to external power supply, but the battery module cannot be activated when the RTC battery is dead or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an activate circuit as an intermediary component between the power button and the battery module. This circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a diode, a resistor, and a capacitor that work together to generate an activate signal. When the RTC battery is functional, it powers the power button which controls the activate circuit. When the RTC battery fails, the activate circuit can still generate the activate signal through alternative power paths, ensuring the battery module can be activated regardless of RTC battery status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the activation function into two independent parts: the power button pressing function and the activate signal generation function. The activate circuit is designed as a separate module that can generate the activate signal independently of the RTC battery status. This segmentation allows the system to maintain activation capability even when the RTC battery fails, as the activate circuit can source the activate signal through its own internal transistor switching mechanism.
2Device complexity
If a simple power button circuit is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot turn on when RTC battery is dead or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The activate circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can be powered by the RTC battery through the power button under normal conditions, and it can also generate the activate signal independently when the RTC battery fails. The circuit includes a first transistor controlled by the power button, a second transistor that can be activated through alternative paths, a diode for signal direction control, a resistor for current limiting, and a capacitor for signal stabilization. This multi-functional design ensures reliable activation while maintaining relatively simple circuit structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An activate circuit for an electronic device includes a first node, a first transistor including a source coupled to a ground, a drain coupled to the first node, and a gate coupled to a battery voltage, a first diode including an anode coupled to an activate signal, and a cathode a first resistance coupled between the cathode of the first diode and the first node, a capacitor coupled between the first node and the ground having a logic low level, and a second transistor including a source coupled to the ground, a drain coupled to the activate signal, and a gate coupled to the first node.