On-Chip Transient Settling Reconstruction With Differential Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-chip monitoring schemes for high-speed integrated circuits are impractical due to the need for external probing, which is costly, bulky, and time-consuming, limiting their applicability to industrialization and mass production, especially for foreground monitoring which requires high-resolution quantization of the full output range.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight on-chip monitoring system that samples the output of a circuit at intermediate and final stages, subtracts the settled signal values, and converts the difference into a digitized representation using a low-resolution analog to digital converter, allowing for cost-effective and simplified monitoring of transient settling behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external probing is used to monitor transient settling behavior, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary monitoring function from the complex external probing system by implementing a simplified on-chip scope that captures only the transient settling behavior of the amplifier, eliminating the need for bulky external oscilloscopes and probing equipment while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary on-chip scope circuit that acts as a mediator between the amplifier output and the digital processing unit, capturing transient settling behavior internally and converting it to digital form for analysis, thereby eliminating the need for direct external analog probing
2Measurement precision
If full output range quantization is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the transient settling portion of the amplifier output signal for quantization, excluding the steady-state signal, thereby enabling the use of a low-resolution quantizer that consumes minimal power while still capturing the essential transient behavior information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by quantizing only the necessary transient settling portion of the signal rather than the full output range, using a low-resolution quantizer that performs fewer operations and consumes less power while still providing sufficient measurement precision for transient analysis
3Measurement precision
If external probing is used for monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the on-chip scope circuitry and capturing transient settling behavior in real-time during normal circuit operation, eliminating the need for time-consuming external setup and measurement procedures while maintaining measurement precision
4Ease of manufacture
If internal on-chip monitoring is implemented, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the essential measurement function on-chip, implementing a scope circuit that replicates only the necessary transient capturing capability without the complexity of a full external oscilloscope, thereby achieving both ease of manufacture and sufficient measurement precision
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus (10) is provided for on-chip reconstruction of transient settling behavior. The apparatus (10) comprises a first sampling means (11) adapted to sample a tracked analog signal output (3') from a circuit under test (1) over an operating period at a first sampling time (t1) thereby generating a first sample output (12). In addition, the apparatus (10) comprises a second sampling means (13) adapted to sample the said tracked analog signal output (3') at a second sampling time (t2) thereby generating a second sample output (14). The apparatus (10) further comprises a signal subtraction means (15) adapted to perform subtraction of the first sample output (12) and the second sample output (14) thereby generating a difference signal (16). Moreover, the apparatus (10) comprises a signal conversion means (17) adapted to output the difference signal (16) in digital domain.