Shared Sampling Switch for Multi-Unit Signal Evaluation

Solution Overview

Problem

Power electronics devices face challenges in efficiently sampling high-voltage signals for evaluation in low-voltage environments due to the size, cost, and complexity of dedicated sampling switches, which are often large and expensive, especially in small technology nodes like 130 nanometers or smaller.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a single sampling switch configured to share multiple evaluation units, allowing the sampled input signal to be delivered to multiple evaluation units, such as current-sensing circuits or analog-to-digital converters, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated sampling switches and optimizing semiconductor area, cost, and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated sampling switches are used for each evaluation unit, then reliability and signal integrity are improved, but semiconductor area and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrityVSAvoidsemiconductor area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple evaluation units share a common sampling switch instead of each having a dedicated switch. The sampling switch is configured to distribute the sampled high-voltage signal to multiple evaluation units simultaneously, reducing the total number of sampling switches required and thereby decreasing semiconductor area while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sampling switch is designed to serve multiple evaluation units universally. A single sampling switch can deliver sampled signals to current-sensing circuits, analog-to-digital converters, and other evaluation units simultaneously, making the sampling switch multi-functional and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If dedicated sampling switches are used for each evaluation unit, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal evaluation accuracyVSAvoidsampling switch complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple evaluation units share a common sampling switch instead of each having a dedicated switch. The sampling switch is configured to distribute the sampled high-voltage signal to multiple evaluation units simultaneously, reducing the total number of sampling switches required and thereby decreasing semiconductor area while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sampling switch is designed to serve multiple evaluation units universally. A single sampling switch can deliver sampled signals to current-sensing circuits, analog-to-digital converters, and other evaluation units simultaneously, making the sampling switch multi-functional and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple sampling switches are used, then reliability is improved, but leakage current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling accuracyVSAvoidleakage current

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple evaluation units share a common sampling switch instead of each having a dedicated switch. The sampling switch is configured to distribute the sampled high-voltage signal to multiple evaluation units simultaneously, reducing the total number of sampling switches required and thereby decreasing semiconductor area while maintaining signal integrity through proper signal distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11265006B2Using a sampling switch for multiple evaluation units

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

AI summary

In some examples, an integrated circuit device includes a sampling switch configured to sample an input signal. The integrated circuit device also includes a first evaluation unit configured to receive the sampled input signal from the sampling switch and evaluate the sampled input signal. The integrated circuit device further includes a second evaluation unit configured to receive the sampled input signal from the sampling switch and evaluate the sampled input signal. The sampling switch is configured to deliver the sampled input signal to the first evaluation unit and deliver the sampled input signal to the second evaluation unit.