Voltage Level Shifting Circuit With Feedforward and Delayed Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management integrated circuits (PMICs) face challenges in maintaining signal integrity and stability during level shifting between different voltage domains, particularly due to noise and complex operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

The proposed electronic device incorporates a feedforward component for one-shot shifting of voltage levels and a feedback component to stabilize the state transitions, ensuring that the feedback is only applied after the feedforward operation is complete, thereby minimizing time delays and ensuring accurate feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If one-shot level shifting is used to quickly convert voltage levels, then the transition time is minimized, but signal integrity may be compromised due to noise and intermediate voltage states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage transition speedVSAvoidsignal integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the output voltage level is monitored and fed back to control the level shifting process. This feedback ensures that the voltage transition completes successfully and maintains signal integrity by detecting and correcting any issues during the transition, resolving the contradiction between fast switching and reliable signal transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an intermediary voltage level (second voltage level) as a intermediate state during the level shifting process. This intermediary approach allows for controlled transitions through multiple stages rather than direct switching, maintaining signal integrity while achieving fast overall transition by pre-positioning the intermediate state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If feedback is applied continuously during level shifting, then signal stability is improved, but time delays increase due to continuous monitoring and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate transition stabilityVSAvoidfeedback processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic feedback sampling rather than continuous feedback monitoring. The feedback mechanism checks the voltage level at specific critical points during the transition (such as when the intermediate voltage level is reached), providing stability assurance only when necessary, thus minimizing time delays while maintaining transition stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple intermediate voltage levels are used for complex level shifting requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelevel shifting adaptabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal level shifting circuit that can handle multiple voltage levels and different domain requirements through a single integrated architecture. The circuit uses configurable parameters and a unified feedback mechanism that adapts to different voltage level requirements without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each case, maintaining low complexity while providing high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4503436A1Electronic device for shifting a voltage level
Publication Date: 2025.02.05 NEXPERIA BV
  • EP4503436A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4503436A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4503436A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Electronic device for shifting a voltage level; the device comprising: a feedforward component configured for one-shot shifting a first voltage level of a first domain to a third voltage level of a third domain, wherein the third voltage level is different from the first voltage level, via at least one second voltage level of at least one second domain, wherein the at least one second voltage level is different from the first voltage level and from the third voltage level; and a feedback component configured for feeding back the third voltage level from the third domain to the at least one second domain.