Voltage Regulator Over-Voltage Detection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit devices face risks due to potential short circuits between pins connected to external filter capacitors, leading to over-voltage conditions that can degrade internal logic circuits and compromise appliance functionality, necessitating effective over-voltage detection and protection mechanisms to ensure safe operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an internal voltage regulator with an over-voltage detection circuit, a power disconnect switch, and a system supervisor to detect and respond to high voltages by putting core logic circuits and output drivers into a safe mode, maintaining logic states with keeper cells and disconnecting power when necessary, and using a voltage comparator with a bandgap reference for accurate voltage monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Vcap/Vddcore pin is shorted to the Vcc pin, then the internal logic circuits can degrade to unknown states due to too high voltage being applied thereto, but adding over-voltage detection and protection circuits increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The over-voltage detection circuit is merged with the existing internal voltage regulator and logic circuitry. The detection function is integrated into the voltage regulator output stage, sharing common components such as the voltage divider network and comparator with existing power management functions, thereby adding protection capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary over-voltage detection circuit is introduced between the voltage regulator output and the core logic circuits. This detection circuit acts as a mediator that monitors voltage levels and triggers protective actions (such as activating a disconnect switch or resetting the system) before over-voltage can damage the logic circuits, thus providing protection while maintaining controlled complexity
2Reliability
If over-voltage detection circuitry is added to monitor the regulated voltage output, then safety and predictability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The over-voltage detection circuit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a safety monitoring mechanism and as part of the overall power management system. The same detection infrastructure can monitor multiple voltage rails and trigger various protective responses, making the added complexity serve multiple purposes rather than being dedicated solely to over-voltage protection
Solution Approach 2:
The detection circuit performs preliminary monitoring of voltage conditions before actual over-voltage damage can occur. By continuously monitoring the regulated voltage output and detecting anomalies early, the system can initiate protective actions in advance, ensuring safe and predictable operation while using efficient circuit design to minimize complexity
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 solution effectively prevents damage from over-voltage conditions by safely disconnecting power and maintaining logic states, ensuring predictable and safe operation of integrated circuit devices, thereby meeting safety certification requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an over-voltage detection circuit having an input coupled to a regulated voltage output of the internal voltage regulator
Implementation Method 2
using a voltage comparator with a bandgap reference for accurate voltage monitoring
Implementation Method 3
a power disconnect switch is coupled between the regulated voltage output of the internal voltage regulator and the core logic circuits, wherein the core logic circuits are disconnected from the regulated voltage output of the internal voltage regulator when the high voltage at the regulated voltage output of the internal voltage regulator is detected
Data Source
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AI summary
Monitoring of a core logic internal voltage regulator output is performed to detect, alarm and put an integrated circuit device into a safe mode when the voltage on the core logic exceeds a safe operating voltage value. This allows putting the integrated circuit devise into a predictable, detectable and safe mode, and to alarm the over-voltage condition to a system monitor to alert on a fault and subsequent fault disposition.