Integrated Circuit Power Supply Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers face the challenge of catering to both scenarios where ICs require external power supplies and those that need to generate their own internal power supplies, leading to excess manufacturing and support costs due to the need for different versions of the same IC with varying input power pins and internal power supply generation circuitry.
Innovation Solution
The IC incorporates a power supply control circuit that can route external power supplies directly to the functional circuit or generate internal power supplies based on the characteristics of the external inputs, eliminating the need for dedicated enable/disable pins by internally detecting voltage levels to select the appropriate conduction paths for power supply routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IC is designed with separate versions for external power supply and internal power supply generation, then each version can be optimized for its specific power supply mode, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase due to producing multiple versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the external power supply input path and the internal power supply generation path into a single IC design. The power supply control circuit dynamically selects between these two paths, allowing one IC version to serve both external power supply mode and internal power supply generation mode, thereby eliminating the need for separate optimized versions for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC is designed with universal power supply capability that can operate in multiple modes: external power supply mode, internal power supply generation mode, and dual power supply mode. The power supply control circuit enables the same IC to adapt to different power supply configurations, making a single version suitable for various application scenarios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the IC uses internal power supply generation circuitry, then it can operate with a single external power input, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic power supply architecture where the power supply control circuit can switch between using the internal power supply generation circuitry and bypassing it to use external power supplies directly. This dynamic adaptability allows the IC to operate with a single external power input when needed, while reducing complexity by disabling the internal generation circuitry when external power supplies are available.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC incorporates self-service capability through the power supply control circuit that automatically detects the availability of external power supplies and autonomously decides whether to use the internal power supply generation circuitry or bypass it. This self-management reduces the need for external control signals and simplifies the overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the IC provides both external power supply inputs and internal power supply generation, then it offers greater flexibility in power supply options, but the device complexity and pin requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply control circuit performs self-service by automatically detecting the voltage levels of external power supply inputs and autonomously selecting the appropriate power supply path. This eliminates the need for additional enable/disable control pins, as the circuit self-manages the selection between external and internal power supplies based on real-time voltage detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the power supply control circuit continuously monitors the voltage levels at the external power supply inputs and uses this feedback information to make real-time decisions about whether to use the internal power supply generation circuitry or bypass it. This feedback-driven control enables flexible power supply options without requiring additional control pins.
Data Source
AI summary
A monolithically integrated circuit with one or more supply overrides without need of an override control pin to the IC is presented. The internal circuitry to control such an override is presented and various override conditions are also presented.