Charge Pump Driver Circuit Temperature Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar systems face challenges in achieving low minimum voltage at the output of charge pump circuits without driving bipolar transistors into saturation, which affects phase noise performance, and this is exacerbated by temperature variations.

Innovation Solution

A charge pump driver circuit that generates a temperature-dependent bias current with a multi-region temperature profile, allowing for the generation of a charge pump control voltage signal that compensates for temperature variations, thereby preventing bipolar transistor saturation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the minimum voltage at the output node is reduced to improve phase noise performance, then the phase noise performance is improved, but the bipolar transistor enters saturation region causing baseband noise degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase noise performanceVSAvoidbaseband noise degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the bias current of the bipolar transistor based on temperature variations. The bias current is modified to compensate for temperature-induced changes in the transistor's base-emitter voltage, allowing the output voltage to be reduced without driving the transistor into saturation. This resolves the contradiction by changing the operating parameters (bias current) to maintain optimal transistor operation across different temperatures while achieving lower output voltages for improved phase noise performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If the control signal voltage is reduced to achieve lower minimum output voltage, then the minimum output voltage is improved, but the bipolar transistor is driven into saturation mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimum output voltageVSAvoidtransistor operation region
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using a temperature sensor to detect temperature variations and automatically adjusting the bias current accordingly. The feedback mechanism ensures that as temperature changes, the bias current is modified to maintain the bipolar transistor in its active region, preventing saturation. This allows the system to achieve lower minimum output voltages while maintaining stable transistor operation across temperature variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables the generation of a charge pump control voltage signal that effectively compensates for temperature variations, allowing for a lower minimum voltage without driving the bipolar transistor into saturation, thus improving phase noise performance.

Implementation Method 1

the bias current source component is arranged to vary the bias current in response to variations in temperature, and wherein the bias current source component is arranged to generate the bias current having a multi-region temperature profile comprising a substantially flat lower temperature profile region and a substantially linear negative slope upper temperature profile region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent current generation:

Data Source

PatentEP3255796B1Method and apparatus for generating a charge pump control signal
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 NXP USA INC
  • EP3255796B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3255796B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3255796B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A charge pump driver circuit (320) arranged to output a charge pump control signal (325). The charge pump driver circuit (320) includes a bias current source component (330) arranged to generate a bias current (335), a control stage (340) and an output stage (350). The control stage (340) is coupled to the bias current source component (330) and arranged to receive the bias current (335). The control stage (340) is further arranged to receive an input signal (215) and to generate a control current signal (345) proportional to the bias current (335) in accordance with the input signal (215). The output stage (350) is arranged to receive the control current signal (345) generated by the control stage (340) and to generate the charge pump control voltage signal (325) based on the control current signal (345) generated by the control stage (340). The bias current source component (330) is arranged to vary the bias current (335) in response to variations in temperature.