Non-Volatile Counter Circuit With Isolated Boosted Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-volatile counter systems face challenges in updating counter values during power loss, especially in applications like flow meters and elevator systems, where energy harvesting is limited and external power is unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A non-volatile counter system with a power circuit that generates and stores counter values using energy from sensor pulse signals, incorporating a switch, boost circuit, and control circuit to manage supply voltages across multiple power domains, allowing for intelligent energy use and isolation to prevent charge drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If energy harvesting sources are made small and low cost for compact position sensors, then device size and cost are reduced, but the energy available for harvesting is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides power consumption into two segments: a low-power mode for basic counter operations and a high-power mode for memory updates. The power management circuit selectively activates high-power operations only when necessary (on pulse edges), allowing small energy harvesting sources to suffice while still enabling compact sensor design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic pulsing of the sensor signal to trigger counter updates and memory writes. By concentrating energy consumption into periodic pulses rather than continuous operation, the system maximizes the utility of limited harvested energy from small sensors while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Reliability
If counter operations are performed during power loss using harvested energy, then position tracking is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously charging energy storage capacitors during powered operation. When power is lost, the pre-stored energy in these capacitors immediately sustains counter and memory operations without interruption, maintaining position tracking reliability while minimizing the need for additional harvested energy during critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational energy to pre-charge storage capacitors during normal operation, creating a self-sustaining mechanism that automatically provides power during outages without requiring external intervention or additional harvesting infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple power domains are used to power logic and memory circuits, then energy management flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments power supply into multiple independent power domains, each with its own voltage regulator and control logic. This segmentation allows independent optimization of power consumption for different circuit blocks (logic vs. memory) while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design and centralized power management control.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management circuit dynamically adjusts power domain activation based on operational needs. During normal operation, only essential power domains are active; during pulse edges or power loss conditions, additional domains are activated as needed. This dynamic approach provides energy management flexibility while avoiding the complexity of permanently activating all power domains.
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 continuous counter value updates and storage without external power, ensuring accurate position tracking upon power restoration, while optimizing energy consumption and reducing the size and cost of sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a boost circuit to boost the second supply voltage signal
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed examples include non-volatile counter systems to generate and store a counter value according to a sensor pulse signal, and power circuits to generate first and second supply voltage signals to power first and second power domain circuits using power from the sensor pulse signal, including a switch connected between first and second power domain supply nodes, a boost circuit, and a control circuit to selectively cause the switch to disconnect the first and second power domain circuits from one another after the first supply voltage signal rises above a threshold voltage in a given pulse of the sensor pulse signal, and to cause the boost circuit to boost the second supply voltage signal after the regulator output is disconnected from the second power domain supply node in the given pulse.