Over-voltage Protection Circuit with Delay Unit for SOC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional over-voltage protection circuits are inefficient in detecting rapid changes in supply voltage, leading to potential damage to System On Chip (SOC) due to increased chip unit cost and layout size, and failure to cut off over-voltage in a predetermined time.
Innovation Solution
An over-voltage protection circuit incorporating a voltage converter, voltage comparator, switching unit, and delay unit, where the delay unit includes an RC-DELAY Power On Reset (POR) circuit to delay the control signal transmission, allowing stable detection of supply voltage transitions and preventing over-voltage application to the SOC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the over-voltage protection circuit is implemented as an independent chip separate from the SOC, then the over-voltage protection function is provided, but the chip unit cost and layout size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the over-voltage protection circuit directly into the SOC chip, merging previously separate protection functionality with the main system. This eliminates the need for an independent protection chip, thereby reducing overall system complexity, layout size, and cost while maintaining the over-voltage protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit is designed to perform multiple functions within the SOC, including over-voltage detection, rapid change detection, and control signal generation. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated components, reducing the overall device complexity.
2Speed
If the supply voltage changes rapidly within several nano-seconds, then the voltage level detection may be incorrect, but the response time must be fast enough to protect the SOC
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit uses a delay unit that introduces a controlled time delay between voltage detection and control signal output. This delay allows the voltage to stabilize during the detection phase, ensuring accurate measurement before the protection action is triggered, thus resolving the conflict between fast response and accurate detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit dynamically adjusts its response based on the rate of voltage change. By incorporating a delay mechanism that activates only when voltage changes exceed certain thresholds, the system maintains measurement precision during rapid transitions while still providing fast protection when needed.
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
The solution reduces chip costs and layout size by integrating logic analysis for over-voltage detection and ensures stable over-voltage protection even during rapid voltage changes, preventing damage to the SOC.
Implementation Method 1
the delay unit includes an RC-DELAY Power On Reset (POR) circuit to delay the control signal transmission
Implementation Method 2
The voltage comparator may be configured to compare the first voltage with the second voltage and to generate a control signal according to the comparison result
Implementation Method 3
The second voltage generator may include a voltage divider with a plurality of resistors, and may generate the second voltage by dividing the supply voltage
Implementation Method 4
The first voltage generator may include a plurality of bipolar junction transistor (BJT) diodes, the number of which may determine the voltage level at which the first voltage saturates
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments are directed to an over-voltage protection circuit and method thereof. The over-voltage protection circuit may include a voltage converter, a voltage comparator, a delay unit, and/or a switching unit. The voltage converter may be configured to generate first voltage and second voltages from a supply voltage. The voltage comparator may be configured to compare the first voltage with the second voltage and to generate a control signal according to the comparison result. The switching unit may be configured to determine whether to apply the supply voltage to a chip in response to the control signal. The delay unit may be configured to delay transmission of the control signal to the switching unit by a delay time.