Ring Oscillator Sequential Signal Timing with Voltage Follower Bias
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems face challenges in generating precise sequential logic signals due to imprecise timing when ring oscillators are switched on and off, leading to inconsistent delay times in inverter stages.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a second ring oscillator to generate a voltage that is used to supply the first ring oscillator, ensuring consistent voltage levels across inverter stages, and a voltage follower to regulate this voltage, allowing for precise timing of sequential logic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ring oscillator is switched on and off to generate sequential logic signals, then the system can generate variable sequential signals, but the timing becomes imprecise due to inconsistent delay times in inverter stages
Solution Approach 1:
A voltage follower circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the ring oscillator and the sequential logic circuit. The voltage follower buffers the voltage swings from the ring oscillator, providing stable and consistent voltage levels to the inverter stages. This eliminates the timing imprecision caused by direct coupling while preserving the ability to generate variable sequential signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter by using a voltage follower to regulate and stabilize the voltage supplied to the inverter stages. By maintaining constant voltage levels despite switching operations, the delay times through the inverter stages become consistent and predictable, thereby improving timing accuracy while maintaining signal generation versatility.
2Device complexity
If the ring oscillator directly drives the sequential logic circuit, then the system structure is simple, but the voltage levels are inconsistent leading to poor timing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage follower serves as a buffering intermediary that decouples the ring oscillator from the sequential logic circuit. This adds minimal complexity to the overall system while providing the necessary voltage stabilization to achieve accurate timing. The voltage follower's high input impedance and low output impedance characteristics make it an ideal buffer in this application.
3Ease of operation
If the inverter stages are supplied with variable voltage during switching, then the ring oscillator can be controlled, but the delay times become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage follower separates the control parameter (voltage) from the timing-critical parameter (delay time). The ring oscillator can still operate with variable voltage for control purposes, but the voltage follower ensures that the inverter stages receive stable voltage levels, thereby maintaining consistent delay times regardless of oscillator switching states.
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 approach ensures that the inverter stages maintain consistent delay times, resulting in precise generation of sequential logic signals with improved timing accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage follower to regulate this voltage, allowing for precise timing of sequential logic signals
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system is configured to generate a sequential logic signal. The electronic system includes a first ring oscillator including a first plurality of cascaded inverter stages. A combinational logic circuit is configured to generate the sequential logic signal by combining signals at the output terminals of at least two of the inverter stages of the first ring oscillator. The electronic system further includes a second ring oscillator including a second plurality of cascaded inverter stages. A bias current source is configured to supply the inverter stages of the second ring oscillator with a bias current, and a first voltage is generated at the inverter stages of the second ring oscillator. A voltage follower is configured to supply the inverter stages of the first ring oscillator with a second voltage corresponding to the first voltage generated at the inverter stages of the second ring oscillator.