Leakage-Compensated Electronic Switch Circuit for Low-Crosstalk ATE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automatic test equipment (ATE) relies on mechanical or reed relays for sharing system instrument resources, which face reliability issues due to limited lifetime and unpredictable malfunctions, and electronic switches suffer from leakage current and signal crosstalk, limiting measurement accuracy and throughput.
Innovation Solution
A leakage compensated electronic circuit using a set of four electronic switches in a T-pole architecture with serial connections and buffers to minimize potential drops and leakage currents, replacing mechanical relays to enhance reliability and throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical or reed relays are used to share system instrument resources, then resource sharing capability is achieved, but reliability deteriorates due to limited lifetime and unpredictable malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical or reed relays with an electronic switching circuit composed of MOSFETs (Q1-Q4) arranged in a bridge configuration. This substitution eliminates moving parts and mechanical wear, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the resource sharing capability between voltage source and DUT pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffers (U1, U2) as intermediary components between the electronic switches and the measurement circuits. These buffers act as mediators that isolate the measurement system from leakage currents and potential drops, enabling reliable resource sharing without compromising measurement accuracy or system reliability.
2Productivity
If electronic switches are used to replace mechanical relays, then operation speed and reliability are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to leakage current and signal crosstalk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces buffers (U1, U2) as intermediary components that isolate the high-speed electronic switching circuit from the precision measurement circuitry. These buffers act as mediators that block leakage currents and prevent signal crosstalk from affecting measurements, thereby maintaining both high test throughput and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the inherent leakage current of electronic switches into a controlled signal path by routing it through the buffer inputs to ground. This approach transforms the harmful leakage effect into a manageable current flow that does not interfere with the actual measurement signals, preserving measurement precision while maintaining electronic switching speed.
3Device complexity
If electronic switches are used without compensation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to potential drop and leakage current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces buffers (U1, U2) as intermediary components that compensate for potential drops and leakage currents. These buffers provide high input impedance to minimize loading effects and maintain accurate voltage measurements, while their isolation capability prevents leakage currents from affecting the measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic circuit for switching purposes comprises a set of at least four electronic switches. A first subset and a second subset comprise at least two electronic switches of said set, respectively. Said at least two electronic switches of said first subset are arranged in a serial connection. Said at least two electronic switches of said second subset are arranged in a serial connection. The electronic circuit comprises a first buffer connected to a first electronic switch of said first subset and a second buffer connected to a second electronic switch of said second subset. Said first buffer minimises a potential drop across said first electronic switch when in open state, and said second buffer minimises a potential drop across said second electronic switch when in open state. The electronic circuit further comprises a switched connection towards ground arranged in between the two subsets.