Charge Distributor Reducing Capacitor Count via Current Mirrors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems require a large number of capacitors to provide multiple charge sources, leading to increased complexity and space usage in integrated circuits, especially in applications like sampled data circuits and input devices.

Innovation Solution

A charge distributor system utilizing a single charge generator and current conveyor to mirror and scale charges, allowing a single set of capacitors to produce multiple independent charge outputs, reducing the need for multiple capacitors and minimizing integrated circuit space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a one-to-one relationship between capacitors and charge sources is used, then each charge source can be independently provided, but the number of capacitors required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge source independenceVSAvoidnumber of capacitors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single capacitor is designed to serve multiple functions by generating charge that can be distributed to multiple charge sources through current mirrors. The capacitor becomes a universal charge source that can supply N different charge sources, each requiring different charge amounts, thereby eliminating the need for N separate capacitors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses current mirror circuits to create copies of the charge signal from a single capacitor. The current mirrors replicate and scale the charge to multiple output channels, allowing one physical capacitor to produce multiple virtual charge sources through signal copying and transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple capacitors are used to provide multiple charge sources, then accurate charges can be provided to sampled data circuits, but the integrated circuit space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge accuracyVSAvoidintegrated circuit space

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple capacitor functions are merged into a single physical capacitor by using current mirror circuits to distribute and scale the charge from one capacitor to multiple charge sources. This consolidation maintains charge accuracy while significantly reducing the area occupied by capacitor structures in the integrated circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical capacitor multiplication with an electrical signal processing approach using current mirrors. Instead of using multiple physical capacitor structures that occupy silicon area, the system uses active circuit elements to replicate and scale charge signals, substituting spatial expansion with circuit-based signal transformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If a single capacitor is used to provide multiple charge sources, then the number of capacitors is reduced, but the complexity of charge distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of capacitorsVSAvoidcharge distribution circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charge distribution function is segmented into modular current mirror circuits, each responsible for a specific charge source. This segmentation allows the complex task of distributing different charge amounts to multiple sources to be broken down into independent, reusable current mirror blocks, making the overall system more manageable and systematic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If n capacitors are used for n charge sources, then each charge source can be independently controlled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge source controllabilityVSAvoidnumber of capacitors

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9310951B2Charge distribution

Publication Date: 2016.04.12 SYNAPTICS INC

AI summary

A processing system for an input device includes a receiver module and a charge distributor. The receiver module includes a first charge integrator coupled to a first sensor electrode and configured to integrate a charge on the first sensor electrode. The charge distributor includes a current conveyor and a plurality of output stages coupled to the current conveyor, wherein a first output stage of the plurality of output stages comprises a plurality of current mirrors and is configured to output a first scaled mirrored charge to offset the charge integrated by the first charge integrator, wherein the first scaled mirrored charge is based on a charge signal provided via the current conveyor.