Circuit Reliability via Transient Voltage Detection and Supply Disable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical systems in vehicles face reliability issues due to high voltage transient events caused by inductive spikes, which can exceed the breakdown voltage of circuit components, leading to potential device failure and increased chip size for protection, while existing devices may not adequately withstand the combined voltage peaks from transients and charge pumps.
Innovation Solution
A circuit reliability system that includes a first and second voltage supply, a node for providing potential, monitoring circuitry to detect voltage thresholds, and disabling circuitry to temporarily disable the second voltage supply when the first voltage exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing the total voltage and discharging high voltage nodes to mitigate transient effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If isolation tanks are implemented to protect devices from high voltage, then device reliability is improved, but chip area is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring circuitry detects voltage transients before they can damage devices and triggers the disabling circuitry to turn off the charge pump proactively. This preliminary detection and response prevents the need for larger isolation tanks, as protection is achieved through timely intervention rather than physical redundancy.
2Reliability
If charge pump output voltage is limited to prevent breakdown, then device safety is improved, but turn-on resistance of switch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charge pump output voltage is made dynamic rather than statically limited. The voltage can reach full levels during normal operation for optimal switch performance, but is automatically reduced when transients are detected. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both high switch performance and device safety without compromise.
3Reliability
If devices with higher voltage tolerance are selected, then circuit robustness is improved, but device availability and manufacturing options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring circuitry provides continuous feedback on supply voltage conditions to the disabling circuitry. This feedback mechanism enables the use of standard-voltage-rated devices while maintaining system robustness, as the feedback loop dynamically adjusts operation to prevent overvoltage conditions that would otherwise require specialized high-voltage components.
4Reliability
If monitoring and disabling circuitry is added to detect and respond to voltage spikes, then circuit immunity to transients is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is self-regulating and automatically responds to transient conditions without external intervention. The monitoring circuitry self-detects overvoltage conditions and the disabling circuitry self-corrects by turning off the charge pump, eliminating the need for complex external protection circuits or manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit reliability system with a first voltage supply for outputting a first voltage and a second voltage supply for outputting a second voltage. The system also includes: (i) at least one node for providing a potential in response to the first voltage and the second voltage; (ii) monitoring circuitry for detecting the first voltage exceeding a threshold; and (iii) disabling circuitry, for disabling the second voltage supply in response to the monitoring circuitry detecting the first voltage exceeding a threshold.