Pin Configuration Circuit Using Voltage Ratios for More States
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin state configuration methods for integrated circuit chips face limitations in the number of states that can be configured due to power losses and precision issues, especially when configuring multiple pins, as they rely on resistor voltage division and external/internal resistor comparisons.
Innovation Solution
A pin state configuration circuit using a configured resistor load with multiple configuration pins, a voltage sampling unit, and a comparator to calculate voltage ratios, allowing for N×N states by combining first and second voltage ratios, and optionally incorporating capacitors for additional states, without power loss as the configured resistor load is inactive after configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If resistor voltage division is used for pin state configuration, then different voltages can represent different pin states, but continuous power losses occur especially when multiple pins are configured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pin state configuration by performing voltage sampling and comparison only during a specific detection phase at startup, rather than continuously. The configuration circuit samples the voltage on the mode configuration pin during the IC mode detection phase, latches the voltage value, and determines the corresponding mode state. After configuration is complete, the resistors are no longer actively consuming power, thus eliminating continuous power losses while maintaining the ability to configure different pin states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single pin with internal and external resistors is used for configuration, then configuration can be implemented, but comparison precision is low reducing the quantity of configurable states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple configuration pins (first mode configuration pin and second mode configuration pin) with their respective resistor networks into a unified configuration system. The voltage sampling unit samples voltages from multiple pins, and the comparator performs coordinated comparisons to determine configuration states. This merging of multiple pins and resistor networks enables higher precision comparison and increases the quantity of configurable states beyond what a single pin could achieve.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two pins are used for configuration with resistor voltage division, then more states can be configured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a unified configuration circuit that can handle multiple mode configuration pins through a common voltage sampling unit and comparator. The voltage sampling unit is capable of sampling voltages from different pins, and the comparator can perform comparisons for different pin configurations using the same hardware resources. This multi-functional design allows the circuit to configure multiple states across different pins without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same core components serve multiple configuration purposes.
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
This solution significantly increases the number of configurable states while improving precision and eliminating power loss by using a π-type resistor topology and capacitor-based configurations, enabling more efficient and effective pin state management for integrated circuit chips.
Implementation Method 1
A voltage of a mode configuration pin MOD between VCC and GND is configured through voltage division by using resistors R01 and R02
Implementation Method 2
a first voltage ratio is calculated based on a voltage of the first configuration pin and a voltage of the second configuration pin that are sampled by the voltage sampling unit
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a pin state configuration circuit and configuration method and an electronic device. The configuration circuit includes a configured resistor load, a voltage sampling unit, and a comparator. The voltage sampling unit supplies a second reference voltage to the configured resistor load by using a first configuration pin or a second configuration pin, and respectively samples voltages of the first configuration pin and of the second configuration pin. The comparator calculates a first voltage ratio based on the voltage of the first configuration pin and the voltage of the second configuration pin that are sampled when the second reference voltage is supplied to the configured resistor load by using the first configuration pin, calculates a second voltage ratio based on the voltage of the first configuration pin and the voltage of the second configuration pin that are sampled when the second reference voltage is supplied to the configured resistor load by using the second configuration pin, and determines a corresponding pin configuration state based on the first voltage ratio and the second voltage ratio. In this application, N×N pin configuration states may be obtained by configuring two configuration pins.