Comparator Circuit with Flag Signal for Voltage Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Comparators experience deteriorated determination accuracy when the voltage difference between input signals is within a predetermined voltage or less, leading to increased power consumption and erroneous signal comparisons, particularly in applications like A/D conversion.
Innovation Solution
A circuit device incorporating a comparator with a flag signal generation circuit that determines the magnitude relation of input signals based on time information signals from voltage-time conversion circuits, allowing for repeated comparisons and adjusting the conversion range to improve accuracy and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional comparator is used to compare input voltages, then the comparison operation is simple and fast, but the determination accuracy deteriorates when the voltage difference between input signals is a predetermined voltage or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional voltage comparison mechanism with a time-domain comparison mechanism. By converting input voltages to time delays using voltage-time conversion circuits, the system achieves high determination accuracy for small voltage differences without requiring complex analog comparator structures. The time domain comparator compares time delays rather than voltages directly, eliminating the dead zone problem inherent in voltage comparators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the comparison parameter from voltage domain to time domain. Instead of comparing voltage levels directly, the system converts voltages to time delays and compares the time parameters. This parameter transformation allows for high-precision comparison of small voltage differences while maintaining a relatively simple circuit structure.
2Measurement precision
If repeated comparison operations are performed to improve accuracy in small voltage difference cases, then determination accuracy improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic comparison approach where the number of comparison operations is adjusted based on the input voltage difference. The flag signal generation circuit detects when the voltage difference is small (within the dead zone) and triggers repeated comparison operations only in those specific cases. For larger voltage differences, a single comparison operation suffices, thereby optimizing power consumption while maintaining high accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback through the flag signal generation circuit to monitor comparison results and determine whether repeated operations are necessary. When the initial comparison indicates a small voltage difference (flag signal activated), the system performs additional comparison operations. This feedback mechanism ensures high accuracy for critical small-difference cases while avoiding unnecessary power consumption in cases where high accuracy is not required.
3Measurement precision
If the conversion range is widened to handle small voltage differences, then A/D conversion accuracy improves, but the comparison operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comparison operation into distinct functional blocks: voltage-time conversion circuits, time domain comparator, and flag signal generation circuit. Each block performs a specific function, making the overall complex operation manageable and modular. The voltage-time conversion circuits convert voltages to time delays, the time domain comparator performs the actual comparison, and the flag signal circuit manages the comparison logic, thereby simplifying the implementation of widened conversion range operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit device includes a comparator and a flag signal generation circuit. The comparator includes a first voltage-time conversion circuit to which at least a first input signal is input and which outputs a first time information signal, a second voltage-time conversion circuit to which at least a second input signal is input and which outputs a second time information signal, and a determination circuit that determines magnitude relation of the first input signal and the second input signal, based on the first time information signal and the second time information signal. The flag signal generation circuit generates a flag signal indicating that a voltage difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is a predetermined voltage or less, based on the first time information signal and the second time information signal.