Quantizer Offset-Based Gain Calibration for Circuit Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Calibrating the gain of a circuit block whose output is subject to quantization is challenging due to the indistinguishability of errors caused by incorrect quantizer offsets and gain errors in conventional calibration methods, leading to increased offset calibration range requirements, which result in penalties such as increased noise, power consumption, and speed reduction.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for calibrating the gain of a circuit block by receiving and analyzing quantizer offsets to determine differences, allowing for incremental gain adjustments based on quantizer offset calibration results, thereby distinguishing and correcting gain errors concurrently with quantizer offset errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional calibration methods are used to calibrate gain of a circuit block whose output is subject to quantization, then calibration can be performed, but gain errors and quantizer offset errors become indistinguishable, leading to increased offset calibration range requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration process into two distinct phases: first calibrating the quantizer offsets independently, then calibrating the circuit block gain using the already-calibrated quantizer. This segmentation allows each calibration task to be performed with optimized parameters, preventing the coupling of errors that occurs in conventional simultaneous calibration methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration of the quantizer offsets before proceeding to gain calibration of the circuit block. By establishing accurate quantizer offset values first, the subsequent gain calibration can rely on these fixed reference points, eliminating the need to account for quantizer offset variations during gain calibration and thus reducing the required offset calibration range.
2Reliability
If increased offset calibration range is used to accommodate both gain and offset errors, then calibration coverage is improved, but noise, power consumption, and speed are penalized
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the calibration process into separate quantizer offset calibration and circuit block gain calibration stages, the patent enables each stage to use optimized calibration ranges. The quantizer offset calibration uses a standard range, while the subsequent gain calibration uses a reduced range since quantizer offsets are already fixed, thereby reducing overall power consumption compared to using an increased calibration range throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the calibration parameters dynamically: first using offset calibration parameters to calibrate the quantizer, then switching to gain calibration parameters for the circuit block. This parameter change allows the system to achieve comprehensive calibration coverage while maintaining efficient power consumption by avoiding the need to sustain high calibration ranges throughout the entire process.
3Reliability
If increased offset calibration range is used to accommodate both gain and offset errors, then calibration coverage is improved, but noise is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments calibration into two phases where the quantizer is first calibrated with standard offset ranges, then the circuit block is calibrated with reduced gain calibration ranges. This segmentation prevents the need to use increased offset calibration ranges throughout, thereby avoiding the noise penalties that would result from operating with expanded calibration ranges.
4Reliability
If increased offset calibration range is used to accommodate both gain and offset errors, then calibration coverage is improved, but speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the calibration process into two sequential stages with optimized ranges for each stage, the patent achieves comprehensive calibration coverage without requiring sustained use of increased calibration ranges. This approach maintains faster calibration speeds compared to conventional methods that must use expanded ranges throughout the entire calibration process to accommodate both error types.
5Ease of manufacture
If conventional calibration methods are used, then calibration can be performed, but gain errors cannot be distinguished from quantizer offset errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration process into distinct stages: first calibrating quantizer offsets independently, then calibrating circuit block gain. This segmentation preserves error source identification because each stage addresses a specific error type with known boundary conditions, allowing the system to maintain calibration feasibility while avoiding the information loss that occurs in conventional simultaneous calibration where error sources become coupled and indistinguishable.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for calibrating a gain for a circuit block are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a plurality of quantizer offsets, where the plurality of quantizer offsets represent calibration data for a quantizer configured to quantize an output of the circuit block, determining one or more differences based on one or more first quantizer offsets of the plurality of quantizer offsets and on one or more second quantizer offsets of the plurality of quantizer offsets, and determining an incremental change in a gain associated with the circuit block based on the one or more differences.