Supervisor Circuit Adjusting Enable Threshold via Internal Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with energy storage devices face inefficiencies due to a fixed enable threshold voltage, which delays circuitry activation and increases the risk of oscillation between enabled and disabled states, especially in devices with varying internal resistance over time, such as batteries in wireless sensor nodes.

Innovation Solution

A supervisor circuit that detects the internal resistance of the energy storage device and adjusts the enable threshold voltage accordingly, eliminating the need for a margin to account for worst-case resistance, thereby enabling circuitry earlier and reducing oscillation risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed enable threshold voltage is used to accommodate worst case conditions, then the reliability of circuitry operation is improved, but the productivity is worsened due to delayed circuitry activation and reduced usable voltage range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuitry operation reliabilityVSAvoidenergy utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic enable threshold voltage that automatically adjusts based on the measured internal resistance of the energy storage device. The supervisor circuit continuously monitors resistance changes and modifies the threshold voltage accordingly, transitioning from a static fixed threshold to a dynamic adaptive threshold that optimizes both reliability and productivity throughout the device lifetime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supervisor circuit establishes a feedback loop that measures the internal resistance of the energy storage device and uses this information to adjust the enable threshold voltage. This closed-loop control system ensures the threshold voltage remains appropriate as resistance changes over time, eliminating the need for excessive margins while maintaining reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If a margin is added to the enable threshold voltage to account for internal resistance variations, then the stability of circuitry operation is improved, but the loss of time increases due to delayed activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuitry operation stabilityVSAvoidcircuitry activation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The supervisor circuit performs self-adjustment by automatically measuring the internal resistance and modifying the enable threshold voltage without external intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual calibration or conservative fixed margins, allowing the system to optimize its own operation parameters in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of enable threshold voltage from a fixed value to a variable value that adapts to changing internal resistance conditions. This parameter change allows the system to maintain stability while minimizing activation delay by adjusting the threshold to match actual device characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed enable threshold voltage is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability worsens due to inability to respond to changing resistance conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupervisor circuit complexityVSAvoidresistance condition adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The supervisor circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring internal resistance, determining resistance changes over time, and adjusting the enable threshold voltage accordingly. This multi-functional approach provides high adaptability to different resistance conditions while maintaining a unified, integrated circuit design that doesn't excessively increase complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 allows for earlier and more efficient use of energy, reducing delays and oscillations, and adapts to changing resistance conditions, particularly beneficial for batteries in small electronic devices and energy harvesting systems.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a voltage drop across the energy storage device in response to drawing the test current from the energy storage device... determining an internal resistance of the energy storage device based on the measured voltage drop and the test current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOhm's Law: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentUS9429627B2Electronic device with supervisor circuit for detecting resistance parameter of an energy storage device

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 THE RGT UNIV OF MICHIGAN

AI summary

An electronic device has an energy storage device and circuitry supplied with a storage device voltage from the energy storage device. A supervisor circuit enables the circuitry in response to the storage device exceeding an enable threshold voltage. The supervisor circuit detects a resistance parameter which is indicative of an internal resistance of the energy storage device and adjusts the enable threshold voltage based on the resistance parameter.