Multi-Supply Power-Up Detector With Adjustable Current Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power up/down detectors for multiple supply voltage devices face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining detection speed, as they often experience current leakage and delayed detection due to transistor size limitations and power management complexities.
Innovation Solution
A power on/off control network with a power up/down detector that adjusts its current capacity based on feedback signals to detect power states, reducing current leakage during power transitions and improving detection speed by dynamically adjusting its sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If transistor sizes are reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but detection speed becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transistor sizes adjustable rather than fixed. The power up/down detector dynamically changes the dimensions of its transistors based on operating conditions: using smaller transistor sizes during normal operation to reduce power consumption, and temporarily increasing transistor sizes during power transition detection to enhance detection speed when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the transistors (size/dimensions) based on operational state. By adjusting transistor size as a variable parameter rather than a fixed design constraint, the system optimizes the trade-off between power consumption and detection speed for different operating conditions.
2Speed
If transistor sizes are increased to improve detection speed, then detection speed is improved, but current leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transistor sizes based on operational needs. During normal operation with stable power supplies, smaller transistors are used to minimize current leakage. During power transition events, the system temporarily increases transistor sizes to improve detection speed, then returns to smaller sizes afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic adjustment of transistor sizes in response to power transition events. The detector periodically monitors power supply voltages and adjusts transistor dimensions in response to detected transitions, using larger sizes only during the brief periods when detection speed is critical.
3Speed
If hardware solutions are used for power management, then detection speed is improved, but power leakage on I/O devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different transistor size characteristics in different parts of the circuit based on local requirements. The power up/down detector uses smaller transistors for continuous monitoring to minimize leakage, while employing larger transistors only in the detection path during power transitions where speed is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the power management function into continuous monitoring (using small transistors for low leakage) and event detection (using large transistors for high speed). This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall power leakage while maintaining detection speed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multiple supply voltage device includes an input/output (I/O) network operative at a first supply voltage, a core network coupled to the I/O network and operative at a second supply voltage, and a power-on-control (POC) network coupled to the I/O network and the core network. The POC network is configured to transmit a POC signal to the I/O network and includes an adjustable current power up/down detector configured to detect a power state of the core network. The POC network also includes processing circuitry coupled to the adjustable current power up/down detector and configured to process the power state into the POC signal, and one or more feedback circuits. For reducing the leakage current while also improving the power- up/down detection speed, the feedback circuit(s) are coupled to the adjustable current power up/down detector and configured to provide feedback signals to adjust a current capacity of the adjustable current power up/down detector.