IC Current Metering via Voltage Variation Detection Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for monitoring current consumption in integrated circuits (ICs) are inadequate in capturing smaller fluctuations, which can lead to inefficient operation or failure due to insufficient power management, especially in systems like SoCs where sudden changes in current demand can cause voltage level drops or peaks.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that include a monitoring circuit, translation circuit, filter circuits, and an interface to accurately determine current values by translating voltage level code values into corresponding voltage values, filtering these values using finite impulse response filters, and generating current values based on the impulse response of the power supply signal, allowing for precise power management adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If voltage level code values are directly converted to current values without filtering, then response speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noise and fluctuations in voltage levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcurrent measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by filtering voltage levels through a finite impulse response filter before converting to current values. This pre-processing removes noise and stabilizes the voltage signal, ensuring accurate current measurement while maintaining responsive tracking of current consumption changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a filter circuit as a mediator between the voltage detection circuit and the current calculation circuit. This intermediary component processes the raw voltage data to eliminate artifacts and fluctuations, enabling precise current measurement without sacrificing response speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If simple voltage monitoring is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect small current fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring circuit complexityVSAvoidpower management reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring function into distinct modules: a voltage level code to voltage value translation circuit, a finite impulse response filter circuit, and a current value calculation circuit. This modular approach maintains manageable complexity while enabling reliable detection of small current fluctuations through specialized processing at each stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces simple mechanical voltage monitoring with an enhanced electronic system that uses finite impulse response filtering and deconvolution algorithms. This substitution enables reliable detection of subtle current variations that would be invisible to basic monitoring circuits, improving power management reliability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If current monitoring captures all voltage fluctuations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of energy increases due to processing high-frequency noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumption measurement precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action through the finite impulse response filter, which processes voltage samples at regular intervals according to a defined filtering algorithm. This periodic processing selectively captures meaningful current fluctuations while rejecting high-frequency noise, achieving precise measurement without energy-wasting processing of irrelevant data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the filter coefficients and processing parameters to optimize the balance between measurement precision and energy consumption. The finite impulse response filter dynamically adapts to different operating conditions, ensuring accurate current measurement while minimizing energy spent processing insignificant voltage variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10296063B2Integrated circuit current metering using voltage variation detection circuit

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed, including a monitoring circuit, a translation circuit, a first filter circuit, a second filter circuit, and an interface. The monitoring circuit may be configured to receive a plurality of code values indicative of a voltage level of a power supply signal. The translation circuit may be configured to translate a particular code value to a corresponding voltage value of a plurality of voltage values. The first filter circuit may be configured to filter one or more of the plurality of voltage values to generate a plurality of filtered voltage values. The second filter circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of current values using one or more of the plurality of filtered voltage values and based on an impulse response of the power supply signal. The interface may be configured to send one or more of the plurality of current values to a functional circuit.