Programmable Power-Failure Detection Circuit for ICs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits face issues with continuous power dissipation due to continuous monitoring of power supply, which can exceed the power capacity of batteries in applications requiring low power dissipation, leading to potential corruption of memory cells and improper operation.
Innovation Solution
A programmable power-failure-detection circuit with a monitor circuit and a switch circuit that can be disabled based on configurable memory cell values, reducing power consumption and preventing continuous monitoring when not necessary, while generating a reset signal to reinitialize memory cells when the power supply is out of specification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous monitoring of the power supply is implemented, then power failure detection capability is improved, but power dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power failure detection circuit is made dynamically controllable through configuration memory cells that allow the monitoring function to be enabled or disabled. This dynamic control mechanism adjusts the operational state of the monitor circuit based on system requirements, resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring capability and power consumption by allowing the system to switch between monitoring and power-saving modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of the monitor circuit from continuous operation to conditional operation based on configuration data stored in memory cells. By modifying the operational state parameter (enabled/disabled) based on stored configuration values, the system achieves power failure detection capability only when needed, thereby reducing unnecessary power dissipation while maintaining reliability when required.
2Reliability
If power failure detection circuit is continuously active, then detection reliability is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration memory cells provide dynamic control over the power failure detection circuit's operational state. This allows the system to adapt its monitoring behavior based on application requirements, enabling the detection circuit only when power failure monitoring is needed and disabling it during periods where battery conservation is prioritized, thus extending battery life while maintaining detection reliability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the operational parameter of the detection circuit from continuous active state to conditionally active state based on configuration data. By changing the operational parameter (enabled/disabled state) according to stored configuration values, the system extends battery life by reducing unnecessary monitoring activity while preserving detection reliability when the configuration indicates monitoring should be active.
3Reliability
If power failure detection is enabled, then operation reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitor circuit's operational state is dynamically controlled by configuration memory cells, allowing the system to switch between enabled and disabled states based on application requirements. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by enabling power failure detection (improving operation reliability) only when configuration data indicates monitoring is needed, thereby reducing power consumption during periods when detection is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of the power failure detection circuit from continuously enabled to conditionally enabled based on configuration data stored in memory cells. By modifying the enabled/disabled parameter according to configuration values, the system achieves operation reliability improvement only when necessary, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection capability when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A programmable power-failure-detection circuit in an integrated circuit is provided that permits programmable selection of operating modes that either monitor a power supply of the integrated circuit or provide reduced power consumption from the power supply by disabling the monitoring of the power supply. The programmable power-failure-detection circuit includes at least one configurable memory cell, a monitor circuit, and a switch circuit disposed on the integrated circuit. The monitor circuit is adapted to monitor the power supply of the integrated circuit and generate a power failure signal in response to the power supply failing to comply with a prescribed operating specification. The switch circuit is coupled to the at least one configurable memory cell and the monitor circuit. The switch circuit is adapted to disable the monitor circuit in response to the at least one configurable memory cell.