Self-Modulated Voltage Reference Using PDM Feedback Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microcontrollers lack the ability to dynamically program both analog and digital circuits, requiring pre-programming and often necessitating multiple semiconductor chips for complex circuit interactions, which increases size and cost, and they have limited analog capabilities, making it difficult to obtain an analog reference voltage without additional components or pins.
Innovation Solution
A Programmable System-on-Chip (PSoC) architecture that integrates both switched-capacitor and continuous-time analog circuits with programmable digital blocks, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration and the implementation of a self-modulated voltage reference circuit using external passive components, enabling analog reference voltage generation without dedicated analog output pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional microcontrollers use pre-programmed analog and digital circuits, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability and dynamic reconfiguration capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration by allowing analog circuits to be programmed and reprogrammed after manufacturing, transforming fixed-function analog blocks into configurable functional units. This enables the same hardware to adapt to different applications through software control, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal analog building blocks that can perform multiple functions (amplification, filtering, oscillation, etc.) through programmable control. These universal blocks replace multiple dedicated analog circuits, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple semiconductor chips are used for complex circuit interactions, then functional separation is achieved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges analog and digital functionality into a single integrated chip architecture. By combining programmable analog blocks with digital control logic on the same substrate, it eliminates the need for multiple separate chips while maintaining complex circuit interactions through integrated communication interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal chip architecture that can perform multiple analog and digital functions through programmable blocks, replacing the need for specialized separate chips. This universal platform approach provides diverse functionality within a single integrated device, reducing overall system size.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated analog output pins are provided, then analog reference voltage generation is simpler, but chip size and pin count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements digital-to-analog conversion capability within programmable analog blocks, allowing digital logic outputs to generate analog reference voltages internally. This eliminates the need for dedicated analog output pins while maintaining the ability to generate precise analog references through software-controlled digital-to-analog converters integrated within the analog blocks.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-modulated voltage reference circuit may generate a reference voltage by receiving an internal reference voltage of a programmable device at a first input of a comparator block of the programmable device, receiving a feedback voltage at a second input of the comparator block, generating a pulse density modulated (PDM) signal based on a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, outputting the PDM signal at a digital output pin of the programmable device, and filtering the PDM signal to generate the output reference voltage.