Regulator Circuit Layout for Post-Burn-In Standby Current Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices lack the capability to measure standby current after burn-in, which is crucial for detecting increased leak current and ensuring the lifespan of internal circuits.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device configuration that includes a burn-in terminal, a standby terminal, and a regulator circuit with specific transistor and resistor configurations allows for the measurement of standby current by adjusting the output voltage and controlling transistor states to detect increased leak current without separating the power source from the internal circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the internal circuit is operated with a burn-in voltage to perform burn-in testing, then the reliability of the internal circuit is improved, but the capability to measure standby current after burn-in deteriorates because the internal circuit lacks a standby terminal function
Solution Approach 1:
A current measurement terminal is introduced as an intermediary component to enable standby current measurement. This terminal acts as a mediator between the power source terminal and the internal circuit, allowing current measurement without requiring the internal circuit to have built-in measurement functionality. The current measurement terminal includes a series regulator and measurement circuit that can accurately measure the current flowing to the internal circuit in standby state.
Solution Approach 2:
The burn-in terminal is designed to serve dual purposes: it can apply burn-in voltage to the internal circuit for reliability testing, and it can also facilitate standby current measurement after burn-in. By configuring the burn-in terminal with a series regulator and measurement capability, the system enables self-measurement of standby current without requiring separate external equipment, thus improving both reliability testing and post-burn-in measurement capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If a separate measurement system is used to measure standby current, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and separation of power source
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement functionality is merged into the existing terminal structure of the electronic device. The current measurement terminal and burn-in terminal are integrated with the power source terminal, combining measurement capabilities with power supply functions. This merging approach enables precise standby current measurement while avoiding the complexity of separate external measurement systems, as the measurement circuits are built into the device's existing terminal architecture.
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
Enables easy detection of standby current after burn-in, simplifies the burn-in process, and allows for optimized power source voltage for measuring leak current, thereby ensuring the lifespan of internal circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a regulator circuit 104 of the electronic device in the related art is configured by a battery power line 106, a voltage monitoring circuit 500 which monitors a voltage of the battery power line 106, a bandgap reference 512 which generates a reference voltage, a constant voltage generating transistor 503 which controls an output voltage of the regulator circuit 104
Implementation Method 2
A failure of the LSI caused by burn-in starts from an increase in leak current of an oxide film of a MOS transistor of the LSI
Implementation Method 3
a bandgap reference 512 which generates a reference voltage
Implementation Method 4
a division ratio switching circuit 502 which switches a division ratio according to a signal of the voltage monitoring circuit 500 to divide the output voltage of the regulator circuit 104
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
Provided is an electronic device which can easily measure a standby current of an internal circuit of an electronic device after burn-in. The electronic device includes: a power source terminal; a regulator that generates a predetermined voltage from a voltage of the power source terminal; an internal circuit that is operated by an output voltage of the regulator; and a standby terminal through which the regulator and the internal circuit are set to a low power consumption state.