Statistical Resistor Array Divider for Precise High-Ratio Voltage Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage dividers face accuracy issues due to variations in resistor ratios caused by factors like initial construction accuracy, voltage coefficient, drift, aging, and temperature coefficient, making it challenging to achieve high accuracy with cost-effective and simple designs.
Innovation Solution
A statistical array voltage divider is implemented using a series arrangement of N nominally-identical resistor elements and a parallel arrangement of M nominally-identical resistor elements, where the second series end is electrically coupled to the first parallel end, allowing for improved accuracy and reduced costs through statistical averaging of non-ideal behaviors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single resistor or simple voltage divider is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and manufacturing precision are insufficient due to resistor ratio variations
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage divider is segmented into multiple nominally-identical resistor elements (N elements in series, M elements in parallel) instead of using a single resistor. This segmentation allows statistical averaging of resistance variations, significantly improving the precision of the voltage divider ratio while maintaining a manageable structure through modular arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple resistor elements are merged in a specific configuration (N in series, M in parallel) to create a composite voltage divider. The combination of series and parallel arrangements of nominally-identical resistors achieves high precision through statistical averaging while the resistors work together as an integrated system.
2Measurement precision
If high-precision resistors are used to achieve accurate voltage division, then the measurement precision improves, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inexpensive, nominally-identical resistor elements with standard tolerances (e.g., 1%) instead of expensive high-precision resistors. By employing statistical averaging through multiple cheap resistors arranged in series and parallel configurations, the system achieves high precision (0.01% or better) at low cost, making the voltage divider economically manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The approach changes the parameter of resistor quantity from single or few to many (N and M elements). This parameter change transforms the system from relying on individual high-precision components to relying on statistical properties of large numbers of standard components, thereby reducing cost while maintaining or improving precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple resistor elements are used to improve accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using nominally-identical resistor elements with standard specifications throughout the array. Each local position in the series and parallel arrangements uses the same type of resistor, simplifying manufacturing and assembly while the collective behavior of all elements achieves high precision through statistical averaging.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more aspects of the techniques and designs described herein may be implemented to provide (e.g., to design, produce, etc.) improved voltage dividers (e.g., more accurate and efficient resistor voltage divider networks). For example, the present disclosure may enable voltage dividers (e.g., resistor voltage divider networks) with a high ratio, such as with a voltage divider ratio K on the order of 100 or more, using a plurality of nominally-identical resistor elements (e.g., such that a significant portion of non-ideal behaviors cancel out and remaining non-ideal behaviors are reduced by statistical averaging). For instance, accurate resistor voltage divider networks may be designed and built using an input resistor having N nominally-identical resistor elements in series and an output resistor having M such resistor elements in parallel. In some examples, an operational amplifier may also be coupled in parallel to the multiplicity of M resistor element strings.