Leadframe Fault Detection via Check Signal Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems face challenges in detecting faults, particularly those that occur within or outside the power supply circuit, due to frequency band limitations and the inability to detect oscillations with amplitudes below the monitoring threshold, leading to undetectable faults in certain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system that injects a check signal into the power supply circuit, allowing the voltage monitoring circuit to detect faults by combining the check signal with actual fault signals, thereby reaching a detection threshold and triggering a fault indication to processing circuitry, which can then place the power converter into a fail-safe state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage monitoring circuitry is used to monitor power supply output, then fault detection capability is improved, but faults with amplitudes below monitoring threshold remain undetectable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by injecting a check signal into the power supply circuit before actual faults occur. This check signal serves as a probe that interacts with potential fault conditions, enabling the monitoring circuitry to detect faults that would otherwise remain below the detection threshold. The check signal is injected in advance to prepare the system for fault detection without requiring additional monitoring components.
2Measurement precision
If monitoring threshold is increased to detect smaller faults, then fault detection sensitivity is improved, but false detections from noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check signal acts as an intermediary that mediates between the monitoring circuitry and the power supply circuit. Instead of directly monitoring for faults with a high threshold, the check signal is injected to interact with the circuit and amplify fault conditions. This intermediary approach allows the use of a lower, more reliable monitoring threshold while still achieving high detection sensitivity, as the check signal enhances the fault signature without introducing false detections from noise.
3Reliability
If additional monitoring components are added to detect undetectable faults, then fault detection coverage is improved, but device complexity and pin count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check signal injection circuit serves multiple functions: it acts as a fault probe, a signal generator, and a circuit tester all in one. By injecting a check signal that interacts with various fault conditions (open circuits, short circuits, impedance changes), the same circuitry can detect multiple types of faults without requiring separate monitoring components for each fault type. This multi-functional approach improves fault detection coverage while avoiding increased device complexity and pin count.
Data Source
AI summary
A system topology may use intentional signal injection to monitor one or more power supply circuits that may supply electrical power to components of the system. The system topology may include voltage monitoring circuitry to monitor the output of the power supply. In some examples, a power supply rail fault may happen either inside or outside of the power supply circuit, but not be detectable by the voltage monitoring circuitry. Injecting a check signal in the presence of an actual fault, may cause oscillations at the output node of the power supply detectable by the voltage monitoring circuitry. Once the check signal, combined with the fault signal, at the output node reaches the monitoring threshold detectable by the voltage monitoring circuitry, the voltage monitoring circuitry may output an indication of the fault to processing circuitry of the system.