Electronic Circuit Ratiometry Regulated Voltage Power Domain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic measurement circuits that rely on ratiometry for analog output signals are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and component size, especially when powered by batteries, as all components are supplied directly by the supply voltage source, leading to high electrical energy consumption and limited miniaturization potential.
Innovation Solution
An electronic measuring circuit that operates most components under a regulated voltage, with only the voltage regulator and ratiometric unit directly supplied by the external voltage source, allowing for the recreation of ratiometry on the analog output signal independently of supply voltage variations, and enabling integration in low-power CMOS technology for reduced size and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all components are supplied directly by the supply voltage source to achieve ratiometry, then the analog measurement signal is dependent on supply voltage variations, but electrical energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is divided into two power domains: a regulated voltage domain for most components (sensor interface, ADC, processing unit) and a direct supply voltage domain for the ratiometric unit. This segmentation allows ratiometry to be maintained through the ratiometric unit while other components operate efficiently under regulated voltage, reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
A voltage regulator acts as an intermediary between the supply voltage source and the majority of circuit components. It provides a stable, regulated voltage to the sensor interface, ADC, and processing unit, allowing these components to operate independently of supply voltage variations while consuming less power. The ratiometric unit remains connected directly to the supply voltage to maintain ratiometry functionality.
2Measurement precision
If all components are supplied directly by the supply voltage source, then ratiometry is maintained, but component size cannot be greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit architecture segments components into those requiring direct supply voltage (ratiometric unit) and those that can operate under regulated voltage (sensor interface, ADC, processing unit). This enables integration of voltage-regulating components and reduces the size of other components since they don't need to be designed for wide supply voltage variations, facilitating overall miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating voltage parameter for most components from direct supply voltage to regulated voltage. This parameter change allows components like the sensor interface and ADC to be designed with smaller dimensions since they operate in a stable, controlled voltage environment, reducing their area requirements while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Use of energy by moving object
If most components operate under regulated voltage, then electrical consumption is reduced, but the analog output signal must be made dependent on supply voltage variations
Solution Approach 1:
The ratiometric unit serves as an intermediary that takes the regulated voltage output from the voltage regulator and uses it to generate an analog output signal that is deliberately made dependent on supply voltage variations. This allows the majority of components to operate efficiently under regulated voltage while the final output signal recovers the ratiometric dependency through the ratiometric unit's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention intentionally changes the parameter dependency of the analog output signal. While most internal components operate under regulated voltage for efficiency, the ratiometric unit processes this regulated voltage to produce an output signal whose amplitude varies with supply voltage changes, thereby restoring the ratiometric measurement capability at the output stage.
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 efficient recreation of ratiometry on analog output signals while maintaining low electrical consumption and allowing for reduced component size, facilitating signal management and integration, thereby improving power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and reducing energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
A voltage regulator, which is supplied by an external DC supply voltage source, makes it possible to supply the sensor interface, the converter and the control and processing unit at a regulated voltage
Implementation Method 2
an analog-digital converter for digitally converting a function signal from an analog measurement signal produced by the sensor interface
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The electronic circuit (1) for measuring a physical parameter provides an analog output signal (SA) that depends on the value of a supply voltage. This circuit includes a sensor interface (2) connected to a sensor (C) to provide an analog measurement signal (Vm), which is then filtered. The circuit further includes an analog-to-digital converter (8) to digitally convert the filtered signal (Sm), and a digital signal processing unit (9) to receive a converted signal from the converter and provide a digital measurement signal (SD). The sensor interface, the analog-to-digital converter, and the processing unit (9) are powered by a regulated voltage supplied by a voltage regulator (4). The analog and digital measurement signals are thus independent of variations in the supply voltage (VCC) of the electronic circuit.A ratiometric unit, which can be an analog multiplier (5) or a digital-to-analog converter, is powered for example by the supply voltage source (Bat) in order to recreate the ratiometry on an analog measurement output signal (SA) on the basis of the analog measurement signal (Sm) or digital (SD).