Termination Circuit Layout for Multi-Pin Interference Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charger circuits for battery-driven devices, especially those conforming to the USB Battery Charging Specification, face challenges in efficiently managing power delivery and maintaining functionality during dead battery states due to the inability to operate the power receiving side controller effectively.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor integrated circuit with multiple termination circuits and an enable pin, where each termination circuit includes a first resistor and transistor in series with a second resistor and an enable circuit that adjusts impedance based on the enable pin state, allowing for effective termination and preventing mutual interference between circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple termination circuits are provided for multiple target pins, then each pin can be terminated independently, but mutual interference occurs between the termination circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control of multiple termination circuits into independent segments by providing a separate enable pin for each termination circuit. This allows each termination circuit to be controlled independently without affecting others, thereby eliminating mutual interference while maintaining the ability to terminate multiple pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces enable pins as intermediary control elements between the target pins and the termination circuits. These enable pins act as mediators that selectively activate or deactivate specific termination circuits, preventing direct interference between them while maintaining individual control capability.
2Device complexity
If a single enable pin controls multiple termination circuits, then the control structure is simplified, but mutual interference between circuits cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control structure by providing individual enable pins for each termination circuit. This segmentation increases the number of control elements but eliminates mutual interference by ensuring that each termination circuit can be independently activated or deactivated without affecting others.
3Reliability
If termination circuits operate during dead battery state, then power management functionality is maintained, but circuit interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power management functionality across multiple independently controllable termination circuits, each with its own enable pin. This allows selective activation of termination circuits during dead battery state, maintaining essential power management functions while minimizing circuit interference by activating only the necessary circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic control of termination circuits through individual enable pins, allowing the system to adaptively activate or deactivate specific termination circuits based on power availability and operational requirements. This dynamic control maintains reliability during dead battery state while minimizing interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes multiple termination circuits that correspond to multiple target pins. The multiple termination circuits each include a first resistor and a first transistor coupled in series between the corresponding target pin and the ground. A second resistor is provided between the corresponding target pin and the control electrode of the first transistor. The enable circuit is arranged such that its output node is coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and configured such that (i) when the enable pin is set to the first state, the current is sunk from the output node, and (ii) when the enable pin is set to the second state, the output node is set to the low level.