Non-Volatile Counter Circuit With Isolated Boosted Memory Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-volatile counter systems in position detection applications face challenges in updating counter values without external power, particularly in applications where energy harvesting is limited, such as flowmeters and elevator systems, requiring efficient energy management to maintain accurate position tracking.
Innovation Solution
A non-volatile counter system with a power circuit that generates and stores counter values using energy harvested from sensor pulse signals, incorporating a switch, boost circuit, and control circuit to manage supply voltages effectively, allowing the system to operate and update counter values independently of external power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy harvesting is used to power the counter during external power loss, then the counter can maintain operation without external power, but the available energy for harvesting is restricted and insufficient for reliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power domain isolation where the first power domain (logic circuit) and second power domain (memory circuit) are separated using a switch. The boost circuit dynamically generates a boosted supply voltage signal that exceeds the sensor pulse signal voltage, allowing the memory circuit to be powered independently at higher voltage levels. This dynamic separation and voltage boosting enables reliable counter operation during power loss by efficiently utilizing the limited harvesting energy from sensor pulses.
2Device complexity
If a single supply voltage is used for both logic and memory circuits, then the system is simpler, but the energy from sensor pulses is insufficient to power both circuits reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power supply system into two separate power domains: a first power domain for the logic circuit and a second power domain for the memory circuit. A switch isolates these domains, and a boost circuit generates a separate boosted supply voltage for the memory circuit. This segmentation allows each domain to be optimized independently, with the memory circuit receiving sufficient power from harvested sensor pulses while the logic circuit operates at lower voltage, thereby improving overall power reliability without excessive complexity.
3Power
If the boost circuit operates simultaneously with the regulator, then power delivery is maximized, but energy from sensor pulses is wasted due to simultaneous charging of both power domains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic, sequential operation of the boost circuit and regulator through pulse-width modulation (PWM) control. The control circuit alternates between activating the boost circuit to charge the second power domain (memory) and activating the regulator to charge the first power domain (logic). This periodic switching ensures that energy from each sensor pulse is directed to one power domain at a time, preventing simultaneous charging and eliminating energy waste, while still delivering sufficient power to both domains over complete operation cycles.
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
Enables accurate and reliable position tracking by efficiently using energy from sensor pulses to update counter values, ensuring system functionality even during power loss, with reduced energy consumption and the ability to utilize smaller, low-cost sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a boost circuit to generate a boosted supply voltage signal that exceeds a voltage of the sensor pulse signal
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed examples include non-volatile counter systems to generate and store a counter value according to a sensor pulse signal, and power circuits to generate first and second supply voltage signals to power first and second power domain circuits using power from the sensor pulse signal, including a switch connected between first and second power domain supply nodes, a boost circuit, and a control circuit to selectively cause the switch to disconnect the first and second power domain circuits from one another after the first supply voltage signal rises above a threshold voltage in a given pulse of the sensor pulse signal, and to cause the boost circuit to boost the second supply voltage signal after the regulator output is disconnected from the second power domain supply node in the given pulse.