Programmable Brown-Out Reset Circuit for Power-Response Tradeoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brown-out-reset (BOR) circuits in semiconductor integrated circuits consume significant quiescent current, reducing battery life in low-power devices, while requiring fast response times to prevent digital logic errors, posing a risk of device failure due to improper voltage operation.
Innovation Solution
A variable power and response time BOR circuit with a comparator, bias circuit, programmable voltage reference, and power source voltage divider, controlled by an n-bit wide power control bus, allowing for configurable power consumption and response speed to match device operational modes, ensuring minimal current usage in sleep mode and rapid response in high-speed operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional BOR circuits operate continuously to detect voltage thresholds, then reliable brown-out detection is achieved, but quiescent current consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The BOR circuit dynamically adjusts its operational state based on device activity. During active modes, the BOR circuit operates continuously with high detection reliability. During sleep or low-power modes, the BOR circuit enters a low-power state with reduced quiescent current consumption, while still maintaining basic voltage monitoring capability through programmable configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit allows programmable adjustment of detection threshold voltage and response characteristics. By changing these parameters, the BOR circuit can be optimized for different operating conditions - achieving either maximum detection reliability or minimum power consumption depending on the device's operational state and requirements.
2Reliability
If BOR circuit response time is increased to prevent digital logic errors during voltage drops, then detection accuracy improves, but device operation may be interrupted longer
Solution Approach 1:
The BOR circuit performs preliminary detection and evaluation of voltage conditions before triggering a full reset sequence. By monitoring voltage trends and anticipating brown-out conditions, the circuit can prepare protective actions in advance, reducing the actual interruption time while maintaining accurate detection of critical voltage thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit implements a graduated response to voltage drops rather than an all-or-nothing approach. For minor voltage fluctuations, the BOR circuit may apply partial correction or warning signals. For severe brown-out conditions, it triggers full reset protection. This partial action approach reduces unnecessary long interruptions while maintaining safety.
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 enables BOR circuits to operate with minimal power consumption in low-power modes and rapid response in high-speed modes, preventing digital logic errors and extending battery life while ensuring reliable operation across varying voltage conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output; wherein the output of the fixed voltage reference is coupled to the first input of the comparator, wherein the output of the power source voltage divider is coupled to the second input of the comparator; wherein if a reference voltage from the output of the fixed voltage reference is greater than a divided power source voltage from the output of the power source voltage divider, then a logic level changes on the output of the comparator
Data Source
AI summary
A brown-out-reset circuit having programmable power and response time characteristics. These characteristics may be programmed over an n-bit wide bus for 2n different characteristics ranging from very low power consumption and slower response time to very fast response time and higher power consumption. A serial one wire bus may be used instead of the n-bit wide bus.