SAR ADC Supply Voltage Feedback for Low-Power Accurate Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Successive-approximation type analog to digital converters face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining operation speed, especially at lower power-supply voltages, leading to difficulties in minimizing power consumption without causing erroneous operations.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an analog to digital converter which compares an analog signal with a reference signal and outputs frequency information, a power-supply voltage generation unit that generates voltage based on this frequency information, and additional units for measuring conversion time and calculating power-supply voltage, allowing for dynamic adjustment of power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the power-supply voltage is reduced to minimize power consumption, then power consumption is improved, but operation speed varies and erroneous operations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the power-supply voltage adjustable rather than fixed. The power-supply voltage adjustment unit dynamically changes the voltage level based on the conversion time measured by the measurement unit, allowing the system to adapt between low voltage (low power) and high voltage (fast operation) modes as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the measurement unit that monitors conversion time and feeds this information back to the power-supply voltage adjustment unit. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust the power-supply voltage based on actual operating conditions, ensuring reliable operation while minimizing power consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If the power-supply voltage is reduced, then power consumption is improved, but conversion time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power-supply voltage based on the measured conversion time. When conversion time becomes too long, the voltage is increased to speed up operation; when conversion time is acceptable, the voltage is reduced to save power, creating an optimal balance between speed and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power-supply voltage parameter based on conversion time measurements. By adjusting this critical parameter, the system can shift between operating modes to optimize the trade-off between power consumption and conversion speed according to actual performance requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Power consumption of a successive-approximation type analog to digital converter is reduced. A system is provided with an analog to digital converter and a power-supply voltage generation unit. In the system provided with the analog to digital converter and the power-supply voltage generation unit, the analog to digital converter compares an analog signal with a reference signal and outputs frequency information indicating the number of times of comparison. Also, in the system, the power-supply voltage generation unit generates power-supply voltage on the basis of the frequency information output by the analog to digital converter and supplies the same to the analog to digital converter.