Low-Power Voltage Detection Circuit for Leakage and PVT Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage detection circuits face challenges in precisely detecting voltage drops caused by current leakage and PVT variations while consuming high power, and are unable to efficiently detect slow voltage drops.
Innovation Solution
A low-power voltage detection circuit that includes a voltage detection circuit, a threshold voltage detection circuit, and a current leakage detection circuit, which uses different capacitor discharge rates and trigger signals to detect voltage drops and current leakage, reducing unnecessary power consumption by simulating current leakage paths and replacing clock signals with trigger signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional voltage detection circuit uses threshold voltage transistor periodically turned on and off to charge capacitor for voltage sampling, then voltage drop detection is enabled, but power consumption is high and slow voltage drop caused by current leakage cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic triggering of the voltage detection circuit based on capacitor discharge cycles. The first and second capacitors are charged through switch circuits and then discharge at different rates, triggering voltage detection only when discharge completes, replacing continuous or frequent clock-based sampling with event-driven periodic detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the discharge rate parameter of capacitors by using different capacitor values (first capacitor and second capacitor with different capacities) to create distinguishable discharge patterns. This allows the system to detect both fast and slow voltage drops by monitoring which capacitor discharges first or at what rate.
2Reliability
If conventional voltage detection circuit uses clock signal to continuously monitor voltage drop, then voltage detection is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces continuous clock signal monitoring with periodic triggering based on capacitor discharge events. The voltage detection circuit is activated only when the discharge of first or second capacitor completes, converting continuous monitoring into event-driven periodic detection that maintains reliability while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor discharge mechanism serves as its own trigger signal generator. The natural discharge process of the capacitors through the switch circuits automatically generates the trigger events needed to activate voltage detection, eliminating the need for external clock signals or continuous control.
3Measurement precision
If conventional voltage detection circuit uses single capacitor discharge rate, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but both fast and slow voltage drops cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage detection function into two parallel detection paths: one using a first capacitor for detecting fast voltage drops and another using a second capacitor for detecting slow voltage drops. Each capacitor-discharge path operates independently and triggers detection based on its own discharge characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses different capacitor values to create different discharge rates as the distinguishing parameter. By varying the capacitance value between the first and second capacitors, the system creates distinguishable discharge patterns that enable detection of both fast and slow voltage drops without complex control logic.
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 circuit effectively detects both fast and slow voltage drops with ultra-low power consumption, preventing voltage sources from dropping below predetermined levels and reducing overall power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a first capacitor coupled between the first switch circuit and a first ground; a second capacitor coupled between the second switch circuit and a second ground terminal; Discharge rates of the first capacitor and the second capacitor are different from each other
Implementation Method 2
a first comparator configured to compare whether a voltage difference between the voltage on the first capacitor and the second capacitor exceeds a predetermined voltage
Implementation Method 3
a voltage detection circuit configured to sample a voltage of the voltage source when being triggered, and determine whether the voltage of the voltage source is lower than a reference voltage
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure illustrates a low-power voltage detection circuit, including a threshold voltage detection circuit, a leakage detection circuit and a low-voltage detection circuit. By utilizing the above-mentioned threshold voltage detection circuit and leakage detection circuit, the voltage variations caused by leakage, temperature or process can be detected in the more efficient and power saving way.