Trimmed Oscillator Counter Circuit for Accurate Delay Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timer circuits in electronic devices face challenges in maintaining accurate time measurement due to variations in oscillation frequency caused by temperature and manufacturing variations, leading to potential errors in abnormality detection and power supply monitoring, and require a large number of capacitors and resistors for adjustment, which hinders miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
An electronic circuit with an oscillator, counter circuit, and trimming circuit is designed, where the trimming circuit includes cuttable conductive parts to adjust the oscillation frequency by setting a predetermined count value in the counter circuit, eliminating the need for numerous capacitors and resistors, thus maintaining accuracy without increasing circuit area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of capacitors and resistors are prepared for frequency adjustment, then oscillation frequency accuracy is improved, but circuit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the adjustment parameter from capacitor/resistor values to counter circuit count values. By trimming the oscillation frequency and compensating through the counter circuit's predetermined value, the system achieves accurate time measurement without requiring multiple capacitors and resistors, thus reducing circuit area while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If oscillation frequency is adjusted to compensate for temperature and manufacturing variations, then time measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the frequency adjustment function with the counter circuit by trimming the oscillation frequency and using the trimmed value to set the counter's predetermined value. This integration allows the counter circuit to compensate for frequency variations caused by temperature and manufacturing differences, improving time measurement accuracy without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Device complexity
If oscillation frequency is kept fixed, then circuit complexity is reduced, but time measurement accuracy deteriorates due to temperature and manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of the counter circuit's predetermined value based on trimmed oscillation frequency. Instead of keeping the system static with fixed parameters, the counter circuit adapts its count value according to the actual oscillation frequency, compensating for temperature and manufacturing variations while maintaining relatively simple circuit architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic circuit is configured to output an output signal after elapse of a predetermined time from a received trigger signal, and includes an oscillator configured to output a pulse signal having a predetermined oscillation frequency; a counter circuit configured to count the pulse signal from the oscillator upon receiving the trigger signal and to output the output signal in response to a count value reaching a predetermined value; and a trimming circuit including a plurality of trimming elements which includes a cuttable conductive part and configured to output a selection signal corresponding to a trimming element having a cut conductive part. In the trimming circuit, the trimming element, which corresponds to the oscillation frequency of the pulse signal output from the oscillator among the plurality of trimming elements, is cut, and the counter circuit is configured to set the predetermined value according to the selection signal.