Sampling Switch Charge Control for Low-Distortion Signal Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic sampling systems suffer from signal distortions due to varying switch impedance and sampling jitter, which limit the useful voltage and frequency range of input signals, and are often addressed with additional circuitry that increases power consumption and cost.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a sampling circuit with a control circuit that applies a predefined charge to maintain constant switch impedance, reducing signal distortion by disconnecting unnecessary circuitry during sampling and using charge pumps to ensure stable voltage levels, thereby minimizing impedance variations and sampling jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional circuitry is added to reduce signal distortion and stabilize switch impedance, then measurement precision and signal accuracy improve, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary circuitry from the sampling system by using a simplified switch configuration that disconnects certain components during sampling operations. This reduction in circuit elements directly lowers device complexity while maintaining signal accuracy through the predefined charge mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the switch by applying a predefined charge to maintain constant impedance during sampling. This parameter control approach improves measurement precision by stabilizing the switch characteristics without requiring additional complex circuitry to compensate for variations.
2Measurement precision
If additional circuitry is added to reduce signal distortion and stabilize switch impedance, then measurement precision and signal accuracy improve, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary active components that would consume power, replacing them with a passive predefined charge mechanism. This extraction of redundant circuitry reduces power consumption while maintaining signal accuracy through the charge-based impedance stabilization approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic application of predefined charge to the switch, rather than continuous active control. This periodic action maintains measurement precision by stabilizing impedance only when needed during sampling, while minimizing power consumption by leaving the system in a low-power state between sampling events.
3Device complexity
If switch impedance is allowed to vary with input signal, then device complexity is reduced, but signal distortion increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameter of the switch by applying a predefined charge to maintain constant impedance. This parameter control ensures measurement precision is maintained across varying input signals while keeping the circuit relatively simple by using a single charge application mechanism rather than complex active control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a predefined charge to the switch before sampling occurs, preparing the switch in advance to maintain constant impedance during the critical sampling period. This preliminary action ensures measurement precision without requiring complex real-time control circuitry, thus balancing device complexity and signal accuracy.
4Productivity
If sampling rate is increased to improve productivity, then data acquisition speed improves, but sampling jitter increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of sampling by using constant impedance switching that reduces jitter. This allows higher sampling rates to be achieved while maintaining measurement precision, as the predefined charge mechanism ensures consistent switch behavior that minimizes timing variations between samples.
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 significantly reduces signal distortion and sampling jitter, improving the accuracy and precision of sampled signals across a wider range of input frequencies and voltages without increasing power consumption or cost.
Implementation Method 1
using charge pumps to ensure stable voltage levels, thereby minimizing impedance variations and sampling jitter
Implementation Method 2
The impedance of switch 110 can be controlled through a switch impedance control terminal 135, which allows switch 110 to function as an 'open circuit' (i.e., have a relatively large impedance) when an 'OFF' signal is applied to terminal 135, and alternatively, function as a 'short circuit' (i.e., have a relatively low impedance) when an 'ON' signal is applied to terminal 135
Data Source
AI summary
Circuits and methods that improve the performance of electronic sampling systems are provided. Impedances associated with sampling semiconductor switches are maintained substantially constant during sample states, at least in part, by compensating for encountered input signal variations in order to reduce or minimize signal distortion associated with sampled signals that pass through the sampling switch.