Cascaded Current Cells for Low-Noise Ramped Current Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating a ramped current signal in regenerative receivers, such as super-regenerative receivers, are limited by noise and reduced linearity, especially at low supply voltages, and require additional components for measuring start-up time, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electronic circuit with a cascade of current cells, each with a trigger input and output, generates a ramped current signal by sequentially activating current sources, allowing for a controlled current ramp with adjustable slope and precise timing, using a logic unit to manage activation and deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a voltage-to-current converter is used to generate ramped current signal, then the current signal can be generated, but additional noise and reduced linearity occur especially at low supply voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the current generation into multiple discrete current cells (first current cell, second current cell, etc.), each contributing a portion of the total current. This segmentation eliminates the need for a voltage-to-current converter, thereby removing the associated noise and linearity degradation while maintaining accurate current control through digital triggering of individual cells.
2Reliability
If traditional current ramp generation is used, then the current ramp can be generated, but additional components for measuring start-up time are required increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The current cells serve dual functions: they generate the ramped current signal and simultaneously provide start-up time measurement capabilities through their trigger inputs and outputs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable current ramp generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger signal acts as an intermediary that connects current generation with timing measurement. By using the same trigger signals that activate current cells also to mark timing events, the patent integrates measurement functionality into the existing current generation structure without adding separate measurement hardware.
3Measurement precision
If precise ramped current signal with arbitrary short timing is required, then measurement and control systems must be added, but this increases device size and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or analog timing measurement systems with a digital triggering and counting mechanism. Digital logic circuits and counters provide precise timing measurement without requiring large physical components, thereby achieving arbitrary short timing measurement while keeping device size and manufacturing cost low.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
In one aspect, the present invention concerns an electronic circuit (10) configured to generate a ramped current signal for a receiver circuit (30), the electronic circuit (1) comprising: - a first current cell (20) comprising a first current source (55), a trigger input (25) to activate the first current source (55) and a trigger output (26), - a second current cell (21) comprising a second current source (55'), a trigger input (25) to activate the second current source (55') and a trigger output (26), wherein the trigger output (26) of the first current cell (20) is connected to the trigger input (25) of the second current cell (21), and - a current supply (24) connected to an input of the receiver circuit (30) and selectively connectable with any of the first current source (55) and the second current source (55').