Integrated Circuit Pin Configuration Using Impedance-Based Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor integrated circuits face limitations in acquiring sufficient information due to a lack of available pins, restricting the number of settings that can be ensured, as they can only read one bit of information per pin.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit configuration that includes a terminal connected to an impedance element and a power supply, allowing the circuit to change the potential of the impedance element's electrode, detect electrical characteristics changes, determine setting conditions, and store them for operation, enabling the use of different impedance elements to read multiple setting conditions from a single terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a terminal is used to read setting information, then one bit of information can be acquired per pin, but the number of available pins is insufficient to ensure sufficient settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameter (impedance value) of the impedance element to encode multiple setting conditions. By using impedance elements with different impedance values (e.g., first impedance value for first setting condition, second impedance value for second setting condition), the system can represent multiple bits of information through a single terminal's electrical characteristic variations, thereby overcoming the limitation of insufficient pins while increasing information acquisition capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple impedance elements are mounted at the same impedance element mounting position, then multiple setting conditions can be read through one terminal, but the circuit configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple impedance elements (first impedance element and second impedance element) at the same impedance element mounting position, connected in parallel to a single terminal. This combining approach allows the system to read multiple setting conditions through one terminal by detecting the overall impedance characteristics, thereby increasing adaptability while managing circuit complexity through unified connection architecture
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
This configuration allows the integrated circuit to read and store multiple setting conditions, improving functionality by enabling the selection of different impedance elements for the same mounting position, thereby increasing the number of settings captured compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
detect a change in electrical characteristics of the terminal based on characteristics of the impedance element when the potential of the one electrode of the impedance element is changed
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit according to one or more embodiments may include a terminal to which an impedance element and a power supply having a predetermined potential can be connected. The integrated circuit may be configured to change a potential of one of electrodes of the impedance element connected to the terminal, detect a change in electrical characteristics of the terminal based on characteristics of the impedance element when the potential of the one electrode of the impedance element is changed, to determine a setting condition among a plurality of setting conditions that are used for an operation of the integrated circuit, store the setting condition in a storage, and use the setting condition stored in the storage for the operation of the integrated circuit.