Shunt-Regulated Voltage Control Circuit for Startup Overvoltage Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage control circuits for integrated circuits, such as those in RFID tags, face challenges in preventing excessive power from exceeding the withstand voltage, leading to potential damage during power reception from antennas.
Innovation Solution
A voltage control circuit with a shunt regulator, switch, and control circuit that includes generation, switch control, and enable generation circuits to manage power flow and regulate voltage, ensuring it does not exceed the integrated circuit's withstand voltage by using level shift circuits and delay mechanisms to control the switch and shunt regulator operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shunt regulator is used to control voltage in an integrated circuit receiving power from an antenna, then the voltage can be stabilized, but the circuit may be damaged by excessive power exceeding the withstand voltage before the regulator activates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by activating the shunt regulator before the integrated circuit begins normal operation. The regulator is enabled in advance to clamp the voltage at a safe level, preventing excessive power from damaging the circuit. This is achieved through an enable signal that activates the regulator during the startup sequence, ensuring protection is in place before the main circuit operates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a control circuit that mediates between the power input and the integrated circuit. This control circuit monitors the power level and selectively activates the shunt regulator when excessive power is detected, acting as an intermediary protective layer that prevents direct damage to the integrated circuit while allowing normal operation when power levels are appropriate.
2Reliability
If the shunt regulator is activated immediately upon power input, then voltage protection is provided, but the circuit may not be ready to operate properly, causing operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the shunt regulator for immediate activation while keeping it in a standby state until the integrated circuit is ready. The regulator's enable circuit is pre-configured but remains inactive until the appropriate moment, allowing the regulator to be quickly activated without interfering with the integrated circuit's startup sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the shunt regulator's activation state changeable based on circuit conditions. The regulator transitions from an inactive standby state to an active protective state in response to specific signals or conditions, allowing it to adapt its operation to the circuit's readiness status rather than remaining statically active or inactive.
3Reliability
If a control circuit with multiple components (generation circuit, switch control circuit, enable generation circuit) is used to manage power flow, then precise voltage control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple control functions into an integrated control circuit module. The generation circuit, switch control circuit, and enable generation circuit are merged into a single coordinated control system that manages power flow and regulator activation together, reducing the need for separate discrete components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining precise voltage control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the control circuit to perform multiple functions through its various sub-circuits. The generation circuit generates control signals, the switch control circuit manages power flow, and the enable generation circuit activates the regulator - all within a single control circuit module that handles multiple aspects of power management, reducing the need for separate specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage control circuit includes a shunt regulator, an output power source line connected to the shunt regulator, a switch connected between a first power source line and an output power source line, and a control circuit, in which the control circuit includes a first current source connected between the first power source line and the output power source line, a generation circuit having an input receiving a signal related to a potential of the first power source line and an output, and configured to generate a control signal at the output from the signal received at the input, a switch control circuit that generates a switch control signal, and an enable generation circuit that generates an enable signal for controlling the shunt regulator in response to a signal from the output of the second level shift circuit.