Charge Sharing Circuit With Capacitive Voltage Hold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art charge sharing circuits fail to maintain constant input bus voltage levels during long inactive periods and lack flexible multiplexing and selecting charge sharing functions, particularly in advanced IC technologies where transistor leakage currents increase.
Innovation Solution
A charge-sharing circuit design that includes capacitors and selective coupling circuits to maintain voltage levels on input data busses during inactive times, with improved multiplexing and selecting charge sharing capabilities, utilizing CDAMP amplifier circuits, GDRV driver circuits, and EQCAP circuits to manage voltage equalization and sharing between input and output bus pairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If charge sharing circuits are used to save operating power, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage levels on input buses cannot be held constant during inactive periods
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit performs preliminary charging of capacitors during active periods before inactive periods occur. The capacitors are charged to hold voltage levels on the input buses during standby or inactive times, preventing voltage degradation without requiring continuous active operation of the charge sharing circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitors are introduced as intermediary energy storage elements between the charge sharing circuit and the input buses. These capacitors act as mediators that store charge during active periods and release it during inactive periods to maintain voltage levels, decoupling the voltage maintenance function from continuous circuit operation.
2Productivity
If conventional charge sharing circuits are used, then charge sharing between bus pairs is achieved, but flexible multiplexing and selecting charge sharing functions is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit employs universal switching mechanisms that enable a single charge sharing circuit to perform multiple functions by selectively connecting different bus pairs. The same circuit infrastructure can multiplex between various charge sharing operations, making the system adaptable to different operational modes and bus configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit incorporates dynamic switching elements that allow reconfiguration of charge sharing paths based on operational requirements. The switching mechanism enables the circuit to adaptively select which bus pairs to connect for charge sharing, providing flexibility and multiplexing capability rather than being fixed to a single configuration.
3Productivity
If transistor leakage currents increase with advanced IC technologies, then device scaling is enabled, but maintaining voltage levels during inactive periods becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit performs preliminary charging of capacitors during active periods before inactive periods occur. The capacitors are charged to hold voltage levels on the input buses during standby or inactive times, preventing voltage degradation without requiring continuous active operation of the charge sharing circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitors are introduced as intermediary energy storage elements between the charge sharing circuit and the input buses. These capacitors act as mediators that store charge during active periods and release it during inactive periods to maintain voltage levels, decoupling the voltage maintenance function from continuous circuit operation.
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
The solution effectively holds voltage levels constant on input data busses during inactive times and enhances multiplexing and selecting charge sharing functions, reducing power consumption and addressing increased transistor leakage currents in advanced IC technologies.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitor is coupled between a first internal node and a second internal node
Implementation Method 2
Amplifier circuit 102 receives the VEQ1 and VEQ2 equalization voltages
Implementation Method 3
The VEQ1 and VEQ2 equalization voltages are provided by EQCAP circuit 108
Data Source
AI summary
A charge-sharing circuit includes a first input bus pair, a second input bus pair, and an output bus pair. A capacitor is coupled between a first internal node and a second internal node. A first circuit selectively couples the first internal node to the first input bus pair, the second input bus pair and the output bus pair. A second circuit selectively couples the second internal node to the first input bus pair, the second input bus pair and the output bus pair. A third circuit selectively couples the first input bus pair to a reference voltage. A fourth circuit selectively couples the second input bus pair to the reference voltage. The third circuit is activated when the first input bus pair is inactive and charge is shared between the second bus pair and the output bus pair. The fourth circuit is activated when the second input bus pair is inactive and charge is shared between first bus pair and the output bus pair.