Shared-Terminal Calibration Circuit for Low-Pin IC Trimming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing cost of manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits with a large number of pins, coupled with manufacturing tolerances in internal circuit elements, necessitates a method to calibrate internal circuit elements using external elements with lower tolerance without requiring additional pins.
Innovation Solution
A circuit configuration that includes a terminal, a circuit portion, and a calibration circuit, where the calibration circuit communicates via the terminal in a first mode and calibrates internal circuit elements using external circuit elements in a second mode, reducing the need for additional pins by utilizing the same terminal for both communication and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If external circuit elements are used to calibrate internal circuit elements, then manufacturing precision of internal elements is improved, but the number of terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing terminal is made multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a communication interface for the circuit portion and as a calibration interface for the calibration circuit. The calibration circuit shares the terminal with the circuit portion, allowing the same physical terminal to be used for different purposes at different times, thereby avoiding the need for additional dedicated calibration terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration circuit is merged with the existing circuit structure by sharing the terminal resource. Instead of adding a separate calibration interface, the calibration circuit integrates with the communication circuit and uses the same terminal, physically combining two functions into a single interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of pins is increased to support calibration, then calibration capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is designed to perform multiple functions: normal communication operations and calibration operations. By making the terminal universal, the chip can perform calibration without requiring additional dedicated pins, thus avoiding the cost increase associated with higher pin counts while maintaining full calibration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration circuit uses the existing terminal infrastructure to perform calibration, rather than requiring separate dedicated calibration pins. The system serves its own calibration needs through the existing communication interface, eliminating the need for additional external calibration connections and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a circuit is disclosed comprising a circuit portion coupled to a terminal and a calibration circuit portion coupled to said terminal.