Stacked Oscillator Circuit for Multi-Voltage Phase-Aligned Clocks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oscillator technologies in data processing devices face inefficiencies in power consumption and circuit area usage due to the need for multiple switch capacitor modules with different voltage requirements, and latch-based drive schemes are unsuitable for high current loads.
Innovation Solution
A signal generator with a plurality of stacked oscillators arranged between two reference voltages, where each oscillator generates an oscillating signal with a different peak voltage, utilizing charge transfer between nodes of identical or similar capacitance to maintain predictable and consistent phase relationships and voltage swings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oscillator generates each clock signal having a peak voltage equal to the highest voltage required to actuate any of the switches, then the switches can be reliably actuated, but the power consumption becomes undesirably large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing each clock signal with a customized peak voltage level tailored to the specific voltage requirements of its associated switch capacitor module. Instead of using a single high voltage for all modules, each module receives clock signals with locally optimized voltage levels, ensuring reliable switch actuation while minimizing power consumption for each individual module.
2Use of energy by moving object
If voltage converters are used to set the peak voltage for each clock signal to the appropriate level, then power consumption is reduced, but the voltage converters consume an undesirable amount of circuit area and are inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage conversion function from separate voltage converter circuits and integrates it directly into the oscillator circuitry. By incorporating voltage-controlled switching elements within the oscillator itself, the device generates multiple clock signals with different peak voltages without requiring external voltage converters, thereby reducing circuit area while maintaining power efficiency.
3Reliability
If a latch-based drive scheme is employed to modify the clock signal for each switch, then voltage levels can be controlled, but the scheme is not suitable for converters that need to drive current loads due to large crowbar current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic voltage control by using voltage-controlled switching elements that can continuously adjust their output voltage levels based on the specific requirements of each switch capacitor module. This dynamic approach replaces the static latch-based drive scheme, enabling precise voltage level control while avoiding the harmful crowbar current effect by preventing simultaneous conduction of opposing switches.
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 reduces power consumption and optimizes circuit area usage by allowing for efficient control of switch capacitor modules and voltage converters with predictable phase relationships between oscillating signals, suitable for high current loads in data processing devices.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing charge transfer between nodes of identical or similar capacitance to maintain predictable and consistent phase relationships and voltage swings
Data Source
AI summary
A signal generator provides a plurality of oscillating signals, whereby each oscillating signal has a different peak voltage and has a predictable and consistent phase relationship with the other oscillating signals. The signal generator includes a plurality of stacked oscillators arranged between two reference voltages, such that each oscillator in the stack generates an oscillating signal having a different peak voltage. Each oscillator stage in a designated oscillator includes a transistor that is connected to a transistor of a corresponding stage in another oscillator. This arrangement of the oscillators provides for charge transfer between the corresponding stages to provide for similar voltage swings in each oscillating signal, as well as to provide for predictable phase relationship between the oscillating signals.