Bandgap Voltage Generator with Multi-Slope Temperature Domains

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bandgap voltage generators fail to maintain optimal voltage levels across a wide range of temperatures, leading to operational limitations in digital and analog circuitry, as they do not adequately adjust voltage supply to compensate for temperature-induced changes in circuit speed and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A bandgap voltage generator system that includes a controller to generate control voltages for variable resistors, adjusting the voltage temperature coefficient to ensure the power supply voltage remains within functional limits across varying temperatures, using a maximum circuit to select the greater voltage between two nodes, thereby maintaining a stable voltage-temperature profile for digital and analog circuitry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a traditional bandgap voltage generator is used to maintain zero voltage dependence over a temperature range, then the reference voltage stability is improved, but the operational range across wide temperature variations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference voltage stabilityVSAvoidtemperature range adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage generator is divided into multiple domains with different voltage vs. temperature slopes. A first domain operates at lower temperatures with a first slope, while a second domain operates at higher temperatures with a second slope. This segmentation allows the circuit to adapt its characteristics to different temperature conditions, extending the operational range while maintaining stability within each domain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage generator dynamically switches between different operating domains based on temperature conditions. The circuit transitions from a first voltage vs. temperature slope domain to a second voltage vs. temperature slope domain as temperature varies, enabling adaptive behavior that maintains optimal performance across a wide temperature range rather than being fixed to a single operating point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the voltage supply is kept constant to ensure circuit functionality, then the operational reliability is improved, but the compensation for temperature-induced circuit speed changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit functionalityVSAvoidcircuit speed compensation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage generator changes its output voltage parameters based on temperature conditions. By switching between different voltage vs. temperature slope domains, the circuit adjusts the voltage supply to compensate for temperature-induced changes in circuit speed and power consumption, while keeping the voltage within functional limits to ensure reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the voltage vs. temperature slope is fixed to achieve zero voltage dependence, then the reference voltage precision is improved, but the adaptability to wide temperature ranges deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference voltage precisionVSAvoidtemperature range coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature range is segmented into multiple domains, each with its own optimized voltage vs. temperature slope. This allows the circuit to achieve precise reference voltage characteristics (zero voltage dependence) within each temperature domain while collectively covering a wide overall temperature range through the combination of multiple domains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3977228B1Voltage generator with multiple voltage vs. temperature slope domains
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3977228B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3977228B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3977228B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electronic circuit (100) is disclosed. The electronic circuit (100) includes a reference voltage generator, which includes a first candidate circuit configured to generate a first candidate reference voltage (VT), a second candidate circuit configured to generate a second candidate reference voltage (VC), and a selector circuit (230, 330, 630) configured to select one of the first and second candidate reference voltages (VT, VC). The reference voltage generator also includes a third circuit (120) configured to generate a power supply voltage (Vdd) based on the selected candidate reference voltage (VT, VC).