PWM Voltage Multiplier Circuit With Time-Integrated Current Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analog voltage multipliers suffer from complexity, calibration challenges, and silicon area occupancy issues, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in signal multiplication, particularly in digital architecture transitions.
Innovation Solution
A circuit architecture utilizing a ramp-based voltage-to-time converter and a sampled-time/current multiplier, reducing complexity and silicon area occupancy, while enabling accurate power dissipation computation through PWM-modulated signals and integration techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional logarithmic amplifier-based analog multipliers are used, then signal multiplication function is achieved, but device complexity and silicon area occupancy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is divided into two independent blocks: a voltage-to-time converter that generates PWM signals, and a current integrator that processes these signals. This segmentation allows each block to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining multiplication accuracy through the separation of conversion and integration functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/logarithmic amplifier-based multiplication with an electro-magnetic approach using PWM modulation and capacitive integration. This substitution eliminates the need for complex logarithmic amplifier circuits while achieving the same mathematical function through signal timing and integration principles.
2Loss of time
If conventional logarithmic amplifier-based analog multipliers are used, then signal multiplication function is achieved, but calibration time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit performs self-calibration through its inherent PWM generation and integration mechanism. The voltage-to-time converter naturally generates duty-cycle proportional to input voltage, and the integrator automatically integrates current over these duty cycles, eliminating the need for external calibration procedures and reducing calibration time to minimal initialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters from continuous analog voltage multiplication to discrete PWM duty-cycle modulation followed by time-integrated current measurement. This parameter transformation simplifies manufacturing by using standard PWM generators and integrators that are easier to manufacture with consistent characteristics across production batches.
3Device complexity
If MOSFET-based voltage-controlled resistor implementation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but accuracy deteriorates due to linear approximation limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic PWM signal generation where the duty cycle varies periodically with the input voltage. This periodic modulation allows the use of simple switching elements rather than complex continuous-variable MOSFET resistors, reducing device complexity while maintaining precision through the accuracy of duty-cycle measurement and integration over complete cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces PWM duty-cycle signals as an intermediary between the voltage input and current integration stages. This intermediary transformation converts the voltage multiplication problem into a time-proportional current integration problem, allowing the use of simple switches and integrators instead of precision MOSFET resistors, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining or improving precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If analog circuits with operational amplifiers are used, then signal processing capability is achieved, but temperature dependency and non-linearity errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes traditional operational amplifier-based analog signal processing with a PWM generation and capacitive integration system. This substitution replaces temperature-sensitive op-amp circuits with temperature-stable digital PWM generators and passive capacitive integrators, significantly improving temperature stability while maintaining full signal processing capability through timing-based computation.
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
This solution provides improved accuracy and reduced calibration time and cost, with enhanced control over process variations, facilitating efficient signal multiplication and power monitoring in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a ramp generator configured to generate a sequence of a ramp waveforms
Implementation Method 2
a comparator having inputs receiving the sequence of ramp waveforms and the first voltage signal, respectively
Implementation Method 3
an integrator capacitance chargeable by the second current signal
Implementation Method 4
a gating switch active between the current source and the integrator capacitance, the gating switch driven by the PWM-modulated signal
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage-to-time converter circuit receives a first voltage signal and produces a PWM-modulated signal having a duty-cycle proportional to the first voltage signal. A current integrator circuit receives the PWM-modulated signal from the voltage-to-time converter circuit block and produces an output signal by integrating a current signal from a current source over integration time intervals having a duration which is a function of the duty-cycle of the PWM-modulated signal. The current signal is proportional to a second voltage signal. The output signal is accordingly proportional to a product of the first voltage signal and the current signal, which is furthermore proportional to a product of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.