Programmable Slew Rate Output Circuit for Variable Signal Speeds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signal output circuits lack an elastic slew rate adjusting mechanism, making it difficult to satisfy the varying slew rate requirements under different operating speeds.
Innovation Solution
A signal output apparatus with programmable slew rate, comprising multiple output units each with a variable signal delay amount, allowing the combination of delay amounts to determine the slew rate of the total output signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the driver circuit operates under high speed, then a shorter rise time and fall time can be achieved, but the slew rate becomes too high and exceeds tolerance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic slew rate adjustment by making the delay amount of delay elements controllable and variable. The control circuit dynamically adjusts the delay amounts of first and second delay elements based on operating conditions, enabling the driver circuit to adapt its slew rate to different speed requirements while maintaining compliance with signal quality standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delay parameter of delay elements to control the slew rate. By adjusting the delay amount of delay elements through control circuits, the slew rate of the output signal can be modified to match different operating speed requirements, transforming a fixed-parameter circuit into a variable-parameter system.
2Reliability
If the driver circuit operates under low speed, then the rise time and fall time can be maintained above predetermined values, but the slew rate becomes too low to meet performance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit dynamically adjusts the delay amounts of delay elements based on the desired operating speed. When low speed operation is required, the control circuit configures the delay elements to provide appropriate delay amounts that maintain signal quality while preventing the slew rate from becoming excessively low, thus optimizing performance for the specific operating condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the delay parameter of delay elements to control the slew rate at low operating speeds. By adjusting the delay amount through control circuits, the system maintains adequate slew rate even at low speeds, ensuring signal quality requirements are met without sacrificing transmission capability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed delay amount is used in output units, then the circuit structure is simple, but the slew rate cannot be adjusted to match different signal transmission requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms fixed delay elements into controllable, variable delay elements. Each delay element is equipped with control circuitry that allows dynamic adjustment of the delay amount, enabling the driver circuit to adapt its slew rate to different signal transmission requirements while maintaining a relatively compact structure through systematic control design.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay elements serve multiple functions: they provide signal delay for timing control and simultaneously enable slew rate adjustment by varying their delay amounts. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address both timing requirements and slew rate control, reducing the need for separate adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a signal output apparatus having programmable slew rate that includes output units. The output units are coupled in parallel between an input terminal and an output terminal and each corresponds to a variable signal delay amount. Each of the output units includes a delay path and an output circuit. The delay path provides the variable signal delay amount to receive and delay an input signal from the input terminal to generate a delayed signal. The output circuit receives the delayed signal and generates an output signal to the output terminal. The output terminal outputs a total output signal according to the output signals generated by the output circuits of all the output units, in which a slew rate of the total output signal is determined by a combination of the variable signal delay amounts of all the output units.