PMIC Charge-Pump Clock Synchronization Glitch Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management integrated circuits (PMICs) face challenges in switching clocks without causing glitches, which can lead to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and phase discontinuities, affecting the reliability of digital logic and power delivery.

Innovation Solution

The PMIC synchronizes the charge-pump with the system clock, allowing it to self-oscillate and skip pulses, ensuring seamless transitions between sync-mode and self-oscillation without phase discontinuity, using a phase detector and sequencing of time delays to manage clock switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the charge-pump switches between sync-mode and self-oscillate modes, then operational flexibility is improved, but phase discontinuity and glitches occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidphase continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting phase alignment between the charge-pump clock and system clock before mode switching, and by pre-configuring the clock source selection to ensure continuous phase operation during transitions between sync-mode and self-oscillate modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple clock sources are multiplexed, then clock source flexibility is improved, but clock switching glitches occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclock source flexibilityVSAvoidclock switching glitches

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A phase detector is introduced as an intermediary component that monitors and compares the phase relationship between multiple clock sources, enabling smooth transitions by detecting when clocks are properly aligned before switching, thereby eliminating glitches during clock source changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the charge-pump operates in self-oscillate mode, then power consumption is reduced, but EMI increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between sync-mode and self-oscillate mode based on operational conditions, allowing the charge-pump to operate in low-power self-oscillate mode when appropriate while maintaining the ability to transition to sync-mode to reduce EMI when system conditions require it

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10804795B2Method for synchronizing power charge-pump with system clock

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR (UK) LTD

AI summary

The proposed Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) features the option to synchronize the charge-pump of a PMIC with the system clock, and then to swap and self-oscillate and skip pulses, when the digital controls of the PMIC send a first order to the charge-pump. The clock control circuitry of the PMIC also features the option for the charge-pump to then swap and use the system clock again, when the digital controls of the PMIC send a second order to the charge-pump. The designed transition of the clock from clock sync-mode to self-oscillate, and from self-oscillate back to clock sync-mode, does not present any phase discontinuity.