Stress Compensated Voltage Reference Circuit with Segmented Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Chips, especially those in packages, experience mechanical and electrical stress effects that lead to performance degradation over time, affecting the accuracy of system voltage references and causing lifetime drift.
Innovation Solution
A system with local and global stress compensation components, including choppers, dynamic element matching (DEM), and auto-zeroing, that senses and compensates for mechanical and electrical stress effects on signals, generating compensated reference voltages and currents to stabilize system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bandgap references are used in packaged systems, then system voltage reference functionality is provided, but mechanical stress effects and life-time drift effects cause accuracy degradation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The reference circuit is divided into multiple independent units (first reference unit, second reference unit, third reference unit) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows the system to switch between different reference sources to compensate for drift and stress effects over time, thereby maintaining accuracy throughout the operational lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple reference units with different stress characteristics and drift behaviors. By changing which reference unit is active based on operating conditions and age, the system adapts parameter changes to maintain accuracy. The controller selectively activates different units to compensate for accumulated drift and stress effects.
2Measurement precision
If multiple reference units are implemented to compensate for stress and drift effects, then reference accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reference units are merged into a single integrated reference circuit block that shares common infrastructure such as the amplifier, output node, and control logic. This merging approach reduces the overall complexity compared to implementing separate independent reference circuits, while still providing the accuracy benefits of multiple reference sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference circuit is designed with multi-functionality where a single amplifier and control system serve multiple reference units. This universal design allows the same hardware infrastructure to support different reference configurations, reducing the need for duplicate components and simplifying the overall device structure.
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
The system achieves high accuracy and stability of reference signals by compensating for stress effects, reducing drift and temperature-related errors, and maintaining performance over the lifetime of the system.
Implementation Method 1
at least one stress sensor 1221-122N can be configured to sense at least one stress component
Data Source
AI summary
Stress compensated systems and methods of compensating for electrical and mechanical stress are discussed. One example system can include a first circuit and a global stress compensation component. The first circuit can be configured to generate a first signal and can comprise at least one local stress compensation component (e.g., employing dynamic element matching, chopping, etc.). The global stress compensation component can comprise one or more stress sensors configured to sense one or more stress components associated with the system. The global stress compensation component can be configured to receive the first signal and to compensate for stress effects on the first signal.