Comparator Kickback Compensation for Low-Power Receiver Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing receiver circuits struggle to efficiently process received data at high speeds and low power consumption due to kickback voltage effects in comparator circuits, which are exacerbated by high RC time constants and large decoupling capacitors.
Innovation Solution
Implement a kickback compensation (KBC) circuit to offset kickback voltages at the reference input node, allowing for reduced or eliminated decoupling capacitors and larger divider resistors, thereby improving data processing accuracy and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If large decoupling capacitors are used in comparator circuits, then kickback voltage effects are reduced, but circuit area increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the large decoupling capacitors from the comparator circuit by implementing kickback compensation through transistor-based circuits (first and second kickback compensation circuits) that actively counteract kickback voltage effects, thereby reducing circuit area while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the circuit parameters by using larger divider resistors (increasing resistance value) combined with kickback compensation circuits, which alters the RC time constant characteristics and allows operation without large decoupling capacitors, thus reducing area while managing kickback effects
2Object-affected harmful factors
If large decoupling capacitors are used in comparator circuits, then kickback voltage effects are reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power-consuming large decoupling capacitors by implementing active kickback compensation using transistors and divider resistors, thereby reducing static power consumption while still addressing kickback voltage effects through the compensation mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power consumption characteristics by using higher resistance divider resistors combined with kickback compensation circuits, which reduces the current through capacitive charging/discharging while maintaining kickback mitigation through the active compensation path
3Device complexity
If high RC time constants are present in comparator circuits, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but kickback voltage effects are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces kickback compensation circuits as intermediary elements that mediate between the simple high RC time constant circuit and the kickback voltage effects, using transistor-based compensation paths to actively counteract kickback without complicating the core comparator structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the circuit parameters by using larger divider resistors to maintain high RC time constants for circuit simplicity, while adding kickback compensation circuits that change the effective impedance characteristics during kickback events to mitigate the harmful effects
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a compensation circuit is provided to reduce adverse effects of kickback voltages at reference inputs for comparator circuits in receiver cells.