Shared EOS Protection Circuit for Power Interruption Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face damage from electrical overstress and power fluctuations, particularly in environments like automotive and manufacturing settings, where power interruptions and electrostatic discharge events can occur, leading to potential device failure and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for multiple ESD protection circuits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a shared electrical over-stress (EOS) protection circuit and power interruption mitigation circuit within electronic devices, which includes a power clamp and energy storage devices like capacitors, providing EOS current paths and ensuring continuous power during interruptions, utilizing components such as Zener diodes, bipolar transistors, and MOS transistors to protect against ESD events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ESD protection circuits are installed within a device, then protection reliability against electrical overstress is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ESD protection functions into a single shared protection circuit that serves multiple terminals (power input terminal, output terminal, and ground terminal). This shared circuit provides EOS current paths from each terminal to ground, eliminating the need for separate protection circuits at each terminal and thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared EOS protection circuit is designed to perform multiple protection functions simultaneously - protecting the power input terminal, output terminal, and ground terminal from electrical overstress events. This multi-functional approach allows a single circuit to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated protection circuits, achieving cost reduction without sacrificing reliability.
2Reliability
If power interruption mitigation circuit is added, then device operation during power interruptions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the power interruption mitigation function with the existing shared EOS protection circuit by coupling the mitigation circuit to the same ground terminal. This integration allows the protection circuit to serve dual purposes - both EOS protection and power interruption mitigation - thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to having completely separate circuits for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared EOS protection circuit acts as an intermediary structure that both the power input terminal and the power interruption mitigation circuit can utilize. By providing a common ground path and protection mechanism that serves multiple functions, the system achieves power interruption mitigation without requiring entirely separate circuitry, thus managing complexity effectively.
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
The solution effectively mitigates the risks of electrical overstress and power interruptions by providing robust EOS protection and ensuring device operation during brief power interruptions, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing reliability in critical systems like automotive and manufacturing environments.
Implementation Method 1
The shared EOS protection circuit may be coupled between the power input terminal and the ground terminal to provide an EOS current path from the power input terminal to the ground terminal
Implementation Method 2
The energy storage device may be a capacitor internal to the electronic device. The energy storage device may be a capacitor external to the electronic device.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, an electronic device comprises a shared electrical over-stress (EOS) protection circuit. The shared EOS protection circuit may be coupled between a power input terminal and ground terminal to provide an EOS current path from the power input terminal to the ground terminal, and coupled between the output terminal and the ground terminal to provide an EOS current path from the output terminal to the ground terminal. The electronic device may also include a power interruption mitigation circuit to provide power to the electronic device during interruptions or fluctuations in external power.