Front-End Receiver Voltage Shifting for High-Voltage Inputs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ethernet and TV front-end receiving circuits require high-voltage components to handle high-voltage input signals, leading to increased power consumption, noise, and potential component burnout, necessitating a reduction in high-voltage components to improve circuit design.

Innovation Solution

A front-end receiving circuit and method that employs a sampling mode and shifting mode to transform high voltage signals to low voltage using a comparator, sampling switches, shifting switches, and capacitors, allowing low-voltage components to be used in the comparator and back-end circuit, thereby eliminating the need for a step-down amplifier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high-voltage components are used to handle high-voltage input signals, then the circuit can process high-voltage signals, but the power consumption increases and the circuit area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle high-voltage signalsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit is divided into two distinct segments: a high-voltage front-end receiving circuit that handles high-voltage input signals, and a low-voltage back-end circuit that processes the shifted signals. The voltage shifting circuit acts as an interface between these segments, allowing each part to operate at its optimal voltage level, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining the ability to handle high-voltage signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage shifting circuit dynamically changes the voltage parameter from high voltage at the input to low voltage for the back-end circuit. By using controllable switches and capacitors, the circuit transforms the voltage level based on operational requirements, enabling low-voltage components to be used in the back-end while still processing high-voltage signals through the front-end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high-voltage components are used to handle high-voltage input signals, then the circuit can process high-voltage signals, but the circuit area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle high-voltage signalsVSAvoidcircuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit architecture separates high-voltage handling functions from low-voltage processing functions into different segments. Only the front-end receiving circuit and voltage shifting circuit require high-voltage component specifications, while the back-end circuit can use compact low-voltage components, thereby reducing the total circuit area while maintaining high-voltage signal processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage shifting circuit serves as an intermediary between the high-voltage input stage and the low-voltage back-end circuit. This intermediary transforms the voltage level, allowing low-voltage components to be used in the back-end, which significantly reduces the circuit area compared to using high-voltage components throughout the entire signal path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a step-down amplifier is added to use low-voltage components in the back-end circuit, then low-voltage components can be used, but the power consumption increases and noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to use low-voltage componentsVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the voltage transformation function from the amplifier stage and places it in a dedicated voltage shifting circuit that operates before the back-end low-voltage circuit. This separation allows the back-end circuit to use low-voltage components without requiring a step-down amplifier, thereby reducing noise while still enabling low-voltage component usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If high-voltage components are used, then high-voltage signals can be handled, but the component life is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle high-voltage signalsVSAvoidcomponent life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit segments high-voltage exposure to only the front-end receiving circuit and voltage shifting circuit, while the back-end circuit operates entirely at low voltage. This segmentation reduces the number of components exposed to high-voltage stress, thereby extending component life while maintaining the ability to handle high-voltage input signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10594332B2Front-end receiving circuit and method for the same

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 REALTEK SEMICON CORP

AI summary

A front-end receiving circuit includes a first input terminal receiving a first signal, a second input terminal receiving a second signal, a comparator, a first sampling switch, a first sampling shifting circuit and a control circuit. The first sampling switch is coupled between the first input terminal and the first comparator input terminal. The first sample shifting circuit includes a first capacitor, a first reference voltage source, and a second reference voltage source. In a sampling mode, the control circuit is configured to control the first sampling switch and the second sampling switch to be turned on, and control the first shifting switch to be turned off. In a shifting mode, the control circuit is configured to control the first sampling switch and the second sampling to be turned off, and control the first shifting switch to be turned on.