Smart Switch Power Circuit for Transient Disturbance Robustness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart switches lack robustness against transient disturbances, particularly in battery-driven applications, and face challenges in maintaining operation during idle mode without excessive power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A smart switch device with redundant supply circuits and a power management unit, coupled via diodes to a buffer capacitor, detects transient disturbances and transitions to normal mode to maintain operation, using a wakeup circuit to enable the power management unit upon detecting a wakeup event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the smart switch operates in idle mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but robustness against transient disturbances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer capacitor is pre-charged during idle mode before any transient disturbance occurs. When a transient disturbance happens, the capacitor immediately provides the necessary charge to maintain stable operation, preventing reset conditions. This preliminary energy storage resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliability is maintained during idle mode without requiring continuous high power consumption.
2Reliability
If redundant supply circuits are added to improve robustness, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second supply circuits are merged through their common connection to the buffer capacitor. Both circuits contribute charge to the same capacitor, creating a redundant supply system without requiring separate complete power management paths. This merging approach provides robustness against transient disturbances while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the power management unit is continuously active to maintain stable operation, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit operates periodically rather than continuously. It activates briefly to charge the buffer capacitor when needed, then enters idle mode with minimal power consumption. The capacitor maintains stable operation during the intervals when the power management unit is inactive, resolving the contradiction between continuous stability and power consumption.
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
Enhances robustness against transient disturbances and reduces the risk of device reset, maintaining stable operation during idle mode with minimal power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The first, the second, and the third output nodes are coupled to a buffer capacitor
Implementation Method 2
The first, the second, and the third output nodes are coupled to the buffer capacitor via respective diodes
Data Source
AI summary
Accordingly, a smart switch device is described herein. In one embodiment, the device includes a first supply circuit configured to provide, based on a first supply voltage, an first voltage at a first output node; a second supply circuit configured to provide, based on a second supply voltage, a second voltage at a second output node; and a power management unit configured to provide a third voltage at a third output node based on both, the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage. The first, the second, and the third output nodes are coupled to a buffer capacitor. The device further includes a wakeup circuit configured to detect a wakeup event and further configured to enable the power management unit upon detecting a wakeup event.