Voltage Switching System for IC Mode Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits (ICs) face resets during transitions between operational modes due to mismatches in the response time of ultra-low power voltage regulators and the discharge time of capacitors, leading to voltage level mismatches that exceed the IC's operating range.
Innovation Solution
A voltage switching system incorporating a handover module, first and second voltage regulators, a switch driver, a transistor, and a comparator, which generates reference voltage signals, adjusts the operational bandwidth of the ultra-low power regulator, and uses a ramp signal to ensure smooth transitions between modes, preventing resets by comparing voltage levels and providing a handover complete signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an ultra-low power voltage regulator is used to provide low supply voltage signal at low voltage level during standby mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the response time of the regulator is slow causing voltage level mismatch during mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the operational bandwidth of the ultra-low power voltage regulator based on the operational mode of the IC. During mode transitions, the bandwidth is increased to accelerate the regulator's response time, allowing it to quickly reach the target voltage level. During normal standby operation, the bandwidth is reduced to maintain ultra-low power consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the response time adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational bandwidth parameter of the voltage regulator based on operational conditions. A bandwidth control signal adjusts the regulator's bandwidth from a narrow state during standby (for low power) to a wide state during transitions (for fast response). This parameter change allows the same regulator to exhibit different temporal characteristics depending on the operational phase, resolving the speed-power tradeoff.
2Reliability
If a capacitor is added to extend discharge time to match regulator response time, then voltage stability during transition is improved, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the capacitor from the voltage switching system. Instead of using a capacitor to extend discharge time, the system relies on the dynamically adjusted bandwidth of the voltage regulator to achieve fast response. This eliminates the need for additional passive components, thereby reducing device area while maintaining voltage stability through active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical approach (using a capacitor's physical discharge characteristic) with an active electronic control approach (adjusting regulator bandwidth). The capacitor-based timing mechanism is substituted with an electronically controlled bandwidth adjustment mechanism, which achieves the same timing function without requiring additional physical components, thus reducing area.
3Loss of energy
If high power voltage regulator is switched off during standby mode, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage transition to low voltage level causes IC reset due to mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adjusting the operational bandwidth of the ultra-low power voltage regulator before the actual mode transition occurs. When a mode transition is detected, the bandwidth control signal pre-configures the regulator for fast response, ensuring it can quickly reach the target voltage level when switched on, thereby preventing voltage mismatch and IC reset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the operational mode of the IC is monitored and used to generate appropriate bandwidth control signals for the voltage regulator. The system continuously adapts the regulator's bandwidth based on the current operational state, ensuring optimal response characteristics during transitions while maintaining low power consumption during steady-state operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage switching system for an integrated circuit (IC) operable in first and second operational modes includes a handover module, first and second voltage regulators, a switch driver, a transistor, and a comparator. When the IC transitions between modes, the handover module receives ramp control and hand-over start signals, generates comparator and bandwidth control signals based on the hand-over start signal and a ramp signal based on the ramp control signal. The switch driver generates a power control signal based on the comparator control signal and a gate input signal based on the ramp signal. The comparator compares first and second voltage signals based on the power control signal and generates a hand-over complete signal. The handover module generates a final hand-over complete signal based on the hand-over complete signal, indicative of completion of transition between the first and second operational modes.