Connector Overstress Monitoring With Event Logging Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices often suffer damage due to electrical overstress, making it difficult for manufacturers to determine if failure is caused by user action, and existing protection circuitry may not be sufficient against high voltage applications.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with an electrical overstress monitor that detects and records voltages exceeding a predetermined magnitude at circuit contacts, including overvoltage detectors, memory for event logging, and a communication module to alert the device processor, allowing for detection and recording of electrical overstress events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing protection circuitry is used, then some level of electrical protection is provided, but it is not sufficient against high voltage applications and user-induced electrical overstress
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical overstress monitor continuously monitors voltage levels at circuit contacts before damage can occur. When overvoltage conditions are detected, the system records the event and can trigger protective actions in advance of actual device failure, allowing preventive measures to be taken before the harmful voltage causes damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor provides continuous feedback about voltage conditions at the circuit contacts. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect electrical overstress events in real-time and record detailed information about the event, enabling the device to respond appropriately and provide data for analyzing protection circuit efficacy.
2Loss of information
If manufacturers want to determine cause of device failure, then fault analysis capability is improved, but there is no mechanism to detect or record user-induced damage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical overstress monitor extracts and records specific information about voltage events separately from the main device operation. By isolating the monitoring function and storing event data in dedicated memory, the system captures fault information without requiring complex integration into the overall device architecture, minimizing added complexity while maximizing diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitor acts as an intermediary between the electrical contacts and the device processor. It intercepts electrical overstress events at the contact level, records detailed information about these events, and then communicates with the processor only when events are detected. This intermediary approach enables comprehensive fault analysis without requiring the processor to continuously monitor electrical parameters, thus limiting complexity increase.
3Productivity
If device continues to function after electrical overstress, then device availability is maintained, but damaged components may cause further failures
Solution Approach 1:
The monitor records electrical overstress events and their characteristics before they cause catastrophic failure. By having this information available in advance, the system can take preliminary actions such as alerting users, logging detailed event data for analysis, or triggering protective shutdowns of affected components while leaving the rest of the device operational, thus maintaining productivity while protecting against further damage.
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
Enables manufacturers to determine if device failure is due to user-induced electrical overstress, providing valuable data for fault analysis and protection circuit efficacy, while allowing the device to remain functional despite partial damage from high voltage events.
Implementation Method 1
the overvoltage detector may comprise at least one comparator for comparing a monitored voltage derived from the relevant circuit contact to at least one reference voltage
Implementation Method 2
there may be voltage clamping circuit for clamping the voltage at the first rail in the event of a voltage above the predetermined magnitude
Implementation Method 3
an electrical overstress monitor for detecting and recording an electrical overstress comprising a voltage exceeding a predetermined parameter applied to at least one of said first set of circuit contacts
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to monitoring of electronic devices (100) and in particular to methods and apparatus for the detection and recording of an electrical overstress applied to a connector (101, 102) of the device. The apparatus describes an integrated circuit (103, 105) of the host device having a first set of one or more circuit contacts (201, 203, 204, 205) for connection to a connector (101) of a host electronic device. The circuit has an electrical overstress monitor (106, 106a) for detecting and recording an electrical overstress comprising a voltage exceeding a predetermined parameter applied to at least one of said first set of circuit contacts. The electrical overstress monitor (106) may have an overvoltage detector (205) and may have a memory (206) for recording the occurrence of an overvoltage and/or a communication module (207) for communicating with other components of the host device in the event of an electrical overstress.