Soft Switching Circuit for Gradual Power-Up Without Voltage Dips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic systems face challenges in handling multi-domain power switching to prevent sudden supply dips that cause system resets and voltage fluctuations, particularly in chip-based systems without external decoupling capacitors, which can lead to operational issues and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A soft-switching device is employed to progressively supply voltage to electronic units over time using a ramped voltage increase, controlled by a MOS transistor with a filter capacitor, ensuring gradual activation and minimizing voltage spikes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple switch is used to activate electronic units directly on the VDD supply voltage, then the device complexity is reduced, but transient voltage drops occur causing system resets and operational issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching device complexityVSAvoidsystem operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary soft switching device between the simple switch and the electronic units. This intermediary component gradually charges the gate of the main switch transistor, preventing sudden charge transfer to output capacitors that would cause voltage drops and system resets, thus maintaining reliability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The soft switching device performs preliminary action by pre-charging the gate capacitance of the main switch transistor before full activation. This gradual charging process prevents the harmful instantaneous charge transfer to output capacitors, eliminating voltage dips and ensuring reliable system operation from the moment of activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If external decoupling capacitors are used to stabilize voltage, then voltage stability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and miniaturization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and miniaturization

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the voltage stabilization function from external decoupling capacitors and relocates it to an integrated soft switching device within the chip. This eliminates the need for external capacitors, reducing manufacturing costs and enabling miniaturization while maintaining voltage stability through controlled charging mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The soft switching device merges the switching function with the voltage stabilization function that previously required separate external decoupling capacitors. By combining these functions into a single integrated circuit element, the patent achieves both cost reduction/miniaturization and voltage stability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If voltage is supplied immediately to all electronic units, then the productivity is improved, but harmful voltage spikes and transients occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem activation speedVSAvoidvoltage spikes and transients

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The soft switching device applies periodic action by gradually charging the gate voltage in controlled stages rather than instantaneously. This staged charging approach maintains high productivity by quickly activating units while preventing harmful voltage spikes and transients through controlled, progressive energy transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

This approach stabilizes voltage transitions, preventing system resets and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for external decoupling capacitors, thus optimizing power supply in chip-based systems.

Implementation Method 1

a filter element of capacitive type C1 connected between the drain terminal and the gate terminal in order to delay the voltage increase at the gate terminal when the switch is closed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12456974B2Soft switching device, electronic system with soft switching device with an electrical power source

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 EM MICROELECTRONIC-MARIN

AI summary

A soft switching device (sw) for connecting a power supply to at least one large electronic unit of an electronic system (1), so as to be activated via the soft switching device to the power supply. The device comprises a switch component (M1) with a control terminal and a current source (13) connected to the control terminal to control the switch component closure when the current source is activated. The soft switching device also includes a soft transition element (C1) of capacitive type between the output terminal (12) and the control terminal of the switch component (M1) so as to gradually close the switch for connection to a power supply.