Voltage-Controlled Current and PTAT Circuit Layout for Stable References

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of maintaining stability in electronic systems, such as low-dropout (LDO) regulators and power-on reset circuits, is increased due to the series arrangement of voltage-to-current converters and proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) circuits, which degrades design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A parallel arrangement of voltage-to-current converters and PTAT circuits is implemented, where each current is sourced to and sunk from the PTAT circuit, allowing the PTAT circuit to receive supply and control voltages to generate reference voltages, thereby simplifying the system's stability maintenance and enhancing design flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a series arrangement of voltage-to-current converter and PTAT circuit is used, then the system can generate reference voltages, but the complexity of maintaining stability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of maintaining stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parallel branches: one containing the voltage-to-current converter and another containing the PTAT circuit. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently, reducing the complexity of maintaining overall system stability while still achieving the desired reference voltage generation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using the conventional series arrangement where the voltage-to-current converter feeds into the PTAT circuit, the patent inverts the architectural approach by placing them in parallel. This inversion fundamentally changes the stability maintenance requirements, as each circuit now operates with its own independent feedback path rather than being coupled in a cascaded manner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a series arrangement of voltage-to-current converter and PTAT circuit is used, then the system can generate reference voltages, but design flexibility is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereference voltage generationVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system into parallel independent branches, each circuit can be designed and optimized separately for different applications. The voltage-to-current converter can be tailored for specific voltage ranges while the PTAT circuit can be independently optimized for temperature compensation requirements, thereby enhancing overall design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The parallel architecture enables the system to serve multiple functions simultaneously - the voltage-to-current converter branch can handle voltage regulation tasks while the PTAT circuit branch handles temperature compensation, allowing the same basic structure to be applied across different application scenarios with minimal modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a parallel arrangement of voltage-to-current converter and PTAT circuit is used, then design flexibility is enhanced, but the system architecture becomes different from conventional designs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately inverts the conventional series architecture into a parallel arrangement. While this creates a non-traditional system architecture, it simplifies the stability maintenance and enhances design flexibility. The inverted architecture allows each component to operate independently with its own feedback mechanisms, making the overall system easier to design and modify for different applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11520364B2Utilization of voltage-controlled currents in electronic systems

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 NXP BV

AI summary

An electronic system comprising a voltage-to-current converter and a proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) circuit is disclosed. The voltage-to-current converter is configured to receive one of a control voltage, a supply voltage, a scaled-down version of the control voltage, and a scaled-down version of the supply voltage, and generate a set of currents. The PTAT circuit is coupled with the voltage-to-current converter such that each current of the set of currents is one of sourced to the PTAT circuit and sank from the PTAT circuit. Further, the PTAT circuit is configured to receive at least one of the supply voltage and the control voltage, and generate a set of reference voltages. The control voltage is generated based on the set of reference voltages and the supply voltage.