Regulator Circuit Digital Counter Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor device regulator circuits face challenges in accurately acquiring a target voltage due to inaccurate calculations, requiring scale enlargement or increased feedback resistance, leading to complex circuit configurations, offset issues, and restricted voltage adjustments, which are further complicated by power reductions necessitating frequent readjustments.
Innovation Solution
A regulator circuit with a comparison means for feedback and reference voltages, a counting means to generate count signals, a latching means to hold signals, and a conversion means to produce a reference voltage, allowing for precise control and adjustment of the output voltage without the need for complex configurations or frequent readjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If scale enlargement or increased feedback resistance is used to accurately acquire reference voltage, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of reference voltage generation by using a counter that responds to comparator output transitions instead of relying on large-scale circuit enrichment. The counter increments based on comparator feedback, allowing precise reference voltage acquisition through digital counting rather than analog circuit scaling, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/analog approach of scale enlargement with a digital counting mechanism. The counter circuit digitally tracks voltage transitions through clock cycles, substituting physical circuit scaling with computational counting to achieve the same measurement precision goal with simpler hardware
2Manufacturing precision
If trimming is performed to accurately acquire target voltage, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to frequent readjustments after power reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the counter continuously monitors the comparator output and adjusts the reference voltage accordingly. When power is restored, the counter resumes from its previous state and continues adjusting until the target voltage is achieved, eliminating the need for manual readjustment and maintaining voltage accuracy automatically
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator circuit performs self-adjustment through the counter-comparator feedback loop. After power reduction and restoration, the system automatically resumes voltage regulation by continuing the counting process from where it left off, without requiring external intervention or recalibration, thus maintaining ease of operation
3Ease of manufacture
If voltages VDD and VSS are used to generate reference voltage, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to restricted voltage adjustment range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability by using a counter that can be programmed with different initial values and increment rates. The reference voltage becomes dynamically adjustable through the counter's flexible counting behavior, allowing the system to adapt to different voltage requirements while still using the simple VDD/VSS reference generation approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the voltage adjustment process into discrete steps controlled by the counter. By dividing the voltage range into countable increments, the system achieves fine-grained control over the output voltage, enabling versatile voltage settings while maintaining the simplicity of the reference voltage generation circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A regulator circuit for efficiently and accurately outputting a target voltage with a simple circuit configuration. The regulator circuit includes an output circuit, a comparator, a counter block, a latch block, and a decoder block. When the target voltage is applied to an output terminal of the output circuit, the output circuit supplies the comparator with feedback voltage. Further, the feedback signal is provided to the counter block. The counter block performs counting in correspondence with the feedback signal. The latch block holds the signal acquired from the counter block and provides the held signal to the decoder block. The decoder block supplies the comparator with reference voltage. The comparator compares the reference voltage and the feedback voltage and controls the counting.