High-Voltage Measurement With Resistive-Divider Drift Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High output amplifier systems face challenges in maintaining accuracy due to drift errors in circuit elements, especially when monitoring high voltage levels, which are divided down and require precise measurement in monitoring circuits.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring circuit using resistive dividers and ADCs to measure and adjust DAC channel outputs, calculating attenuation ratios without relying on resistance values, thereby compensating for drift and other errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high voltage output is produced by amplifier systems, then the system can provide high voltage levels, but drift errors in circuit elements cause accuracy deterioration over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the output voltage is continuously monitored through a voltage divider circuit, and the measured voltage is compared with the expected value. The system automatically adjusts the output to compensate for drift errors, maintaining accuracy over time despite component variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct high-voltage measurement with an indirect measurement approach using a voltage divider circuit that transforms the high voltage into a measurable low voltage range. This substitution allows standard low-voltage measurement circuits to accurately measure high voltage outputs without being directly exposed to high voltage stress.
2Adaptability or versatility
If voltage division is used to monitor high output levels, then the measurement range is extended, but the required measurement precision becomes more challenging to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voltage divider circuit as an intermediary between the high voltage output and the measurement circuit. This intermediary transforms the high voltage into a proportional low voltage that can be accurately measured by standard ADC circuits, while the transformation ratio is precisely calculated and compensated for in the measurement algorithm.
3Ease of manufacture
If resistance values are used to calculate attenuation ratios, then the calculation is simplified, but drift errors in resistors cause measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback to measure the actual output voltage and compares it with the expected voltage based on the DAC code. The system calculates the actual attenuation ratio from these measurements rather than relying solely on nominal resistance values, compensating for resistor drift errors through the feedback loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from using fixed resistance values as the basis for attenuation ratio calculation to using dynamically measured voltage values. The attenuation ratio is recalculated based on actual measurements taken during operation, allowing the system to adapt to component drift and maintain accuracy.
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
Accurately measures and adjusts DAC channel outputs, maintaining precision despite drift and noise, ensuring high-resolution monitoring of high voltage levels.
Implementation Method 1
a resistive divider circuit including a first terminal coupled to the output of the DAC circuit, a second terminal coupled to the reference circuit, and an output terminal to provide a measurement voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring circuit includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit; a reference circuit configured to produce multiple reference levels; a resistive divider circuit including a first terminal coupled to the output of the DAC circuit, a second terminal coupled to the reference circuit, and an output terminal to provide a measurement voltage; and a measurement circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to apply a first reference level to the second terminal of the resistive divider circuit and measure a first measurement voltage at the output terminal of the resistive divider circuit; apply a second reference level to the second terminal of the resistive divider circuit and measure a second measurement voltage at the output terminal of the resistive divider circuit; and calculate the DAC circuit output level using the first and second reference levels, and the first and second measurement voltages.