Current-to-Voltage Converter With Low-Voltage Output Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing current-to-voltage converters require high-voltage components to adjust the output voltage range, leading to increased system cost, size, and performance limitations due to the use of high-voltage devices.
Innovation Solution
A current-to-voltage signal converter with a trans-impedance amplifier and a subtractor circuit, where a voltage adjustment mechanism adjusts the input voltage between predetermined thresholds, allowing the use of low-voltage components and a unipolar supply, thereby reducing the need for high-voltage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If high-voltage components are used to adjust the output voltage range of the trans-impedance amplifier, then the voltage adjustment capability is improved, but the system cost, size, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter range by introducing a voltage adjustment circuit that scales the output voltage of the trans-impedance amplifier from a high-voltage range to a low-voltage range suitable for modern low-voltage components. This allows the system to use low-voltage components while maintaining the required voltage adjustment capability through controlled parameter transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a voltage adjustment circuit as an intermediary component between the trans-impedance amplifier and the downstream low-voltage components. This intermediary circuit performs the voltage scaling function, allowing the high-voltage amplifier to drive low-voltage components without requiring the entire system to operate at high voltage, thus reducing overall system complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If high-voltage components are used in the signal converter, then the voltage handling capability is improved, but the system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the voltage parameter from high-voltage range to low-voltage range through a dedicated voltage adjustment circuit. This allows the system to maintain reliable voltage handling capability for the signal conversion function while using smaller, lower-voltage components for the remaining circuitry, thereby reducing overall system size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If high-voltage components are used to condition the output signal, then the signal conditioning capability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating voltage parameter from high-voltage to low-voltage through a voltage adjustment circuit, enabling the use of low-voltage components that consume less power. The signal conditioning capability is maintained through the voltage scaling function, while the overall power consumption is reduced by operating the majority of the system at lower voltage levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a current-to-voltage signal converter (1) which may operate at an adjusted voltage. The current-to-voltage converter includes a trans-impedance amplifier (2) which converts a current input into a voltage output (Vout1). The voltage output may operate around an undesirable predetermined voltage, and must therefore be adjusted in order to make it suitable for any downstream signal processing circuitry, such as an ADC. As such, a subtractor circuit (4) is coupled to the output of the trans-impedance amplifier. At the input of the subtractor circuit, a voltage adjustment circuit (22,32) is employed, to adjust the voltage input to the subtractor circuit. As such, the input to the subtractor is adjusted between a first predetermined voltage threshold and a second predetermined voltage threshold, and the subtractor circuit may therefore be a low-voltage component.