Digital Insufficient-Supply Detector for Power Source Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power source monitoring systems for battery-powered and energy-harvesting devices often fail to detect insufficient or oversupply conditions effectively, leading to undetected voltage variations that can result in undesired product behavior, due to high power consumption and complexity of existing analog comparator-based solutions.
Innovation Solution
A digital insufficient-supply detector using a current multiplier and digital counter that dynamically detects current sourcing capability, generating an overflow output when the current sourcing capability falls below a threshold, allowing for compensatory responses such as load shedding or alert indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If analog comparator-based detection circuits are used to monitor voltage supplied by the power source, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the analog comparator-based detection circuit with a digital detection circuit that uses a voltage divider, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and digital processor. This substitution of digital electronics for analog circuitry reduces power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy, directly addressing the technical contradiction between measurement precision and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the detection system by using pulsed or periodic monitoring instead of continuous monitoring. The digital processor can be configured to sample voltage at specific intervals, reducing average power consumption while still detecting insufficient supply conditions effectively. This parameter change allows the system to balance detection accuracy with energy efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If analog comparator-based detection circuits are used to monitor voltage supplied by the power source, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex analog comparator circuits with a simplified digital implementation using an ADC and digital processor. The digital approach eliminates the need for precise analog reference voltage generation and comparator circuitry, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining or improving detection accuracy through digital signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital processor used for voltage detection can also perform other functions such as system control, data processing, and communication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection capabilities.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of voltage supplied by the power source is performed to ensure undetected under-voltage conditions do not occur, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or pulsed monitoring of the power source voltage instead of continuous monitoring. The digital processor can be configured to sample the voltage at defined intervals, reducing average power consumption while maintaining sufficient detection reliability. The sampling rate and timing can be optimized based on the specific application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection circuit is integrated into the existing power management architecture of the portable device, utilizing available digital resources such as the ADC and processor that are already part of the system. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring circuits, reducing power consumption while maintaining detection reliability through efficient use of existing components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and device provide for the detection of the adequacy of the current sourcing capability of a power source. The current sourcing capability of the power source is dynamically detected by sampling comparison values obtained during one or more sampling sub-windows and determining a sample density of comparison values. In response to the sample density of comparison values crossing a selectable density threshold, an insufficient-supply indication is generated.