Relay switch including an energy detection circuit

• US 20060290208A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micrel Incorporated (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chang, Menping, Tian, Jing
• Granted Patent: US 7,504,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49175 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/40 Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 307/01 Data transmitted over power lines

Abstract

A semiconductor relay switch having two data ports receiving incoming signals and a power supply terminal receiving a power supply voltage is responsive to a power supply voltage level and an energy level of the incoming signals to open and close its conduction paths. The relay switch is open when a valid power supply level is detected and when there is no supply power on the power supply terminal but a high energy level is detected in the incoming signals. The relay switch is closed to allow conduction between the two data ports only when there is no power supply voltage on the power supply terminal and an energy level below a predetermined threshold is detected in the incoming signals. In one embodiment, the semiconductor relay switch includes a main conduction switch circuit, an energy detect circuit and a control signal generator.

Claims

1. A relay switch circuit, comprising:

a first data port coupled to a first pair of wires carrying a first pair of differential signals;

a second data port coupled to a second pair of wires carrying a second pair of differential signals;

a power supply terminal receiving a power supply voltage signal;

an energy detect circuit coupled to measure the energy of incoming signals on the first data port and the second data port, the energy detect circuit generating a first energy detect signal and a second energy detect signal indicative of an energy level of the incoming signals on the respective first and second data ports, the first and second energy detect signals having a first state when an energy level exceeding a predetermined threshold is measured on the incoming signals at the respective data port and a second state otherwise;

a control signal generator circuit coupled to receive incoming signals from the first data port and the second data port, the power supply voltage signal, and the first and second energy detect signals and generate one or more control signals in response, the control signal generator deriving power for its operation from the incoming signals; and

a switch circuit coupled to the first data port and the second data port and being controlled by the one or more control signals, the switch circuit being operated to open to isolate the first data port from the second data port or close to transmit differential signals onto and receive differential signals from the first and second data ports,

wherein the control signal generator generates the one or more control signals to cause the switch circuit to open when the power supply voltage signal indicates a valid power supply voltage and to open when the power supply voltage signal indicates an invalid power supply voltage and one of the first and second energy detect signals has the first state, and the control signal generator generates the one or more control signals to cause the switch circuit to close when the power supply voltage signal indicates an invalid power supply voltage and both of the first and second energy detect signals have the second state.

2. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second energy detect signals have the first state when the incoming signals comprise signals having a high pulse density and the second state when the incoming signals comprise signals having a low pulse density.

3. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch circuit comprises:

first and second conduction paths connecting a first wire of the first data port to a first wire of the second data port;

third and fourth conduction paths connecting a second wire of the first data port to a second wire of the second data port;

the first conduction path comprising one or more transistors of a first type being controlled by the one or more control signals;

the second conduction path comprising one or more transistors of a second type, opposite to the first type, being controlled by the one or more control signals;

the third conduction path comprising one or more transistors of the first type being controlled by the one or more control signals; and

the fourth conduction path comprising one or more transistors of the second type being controlled by the one or more control signals;

wherein the one or more control signals operate to turn on the first, second, third and fourth conduction paths to electrically connect the first data port to the second data port and to turn off the first, second, third and fourth conduction paths to electrically isolate the first data port from the second data port.

4. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more control signals comprise a plurality of control signals, the switch circuit comprises:

first and second conduction paths connecting a first wire of the first data port to a first wire of the second data port;

third and fourth conduction paths connecting a second wire of the first data port to a second wire of the second data port;

the first conduction path comprising a first NMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor connected in series between the first wires of the first and second data ports, the first and second NMOS transistors being controlled by a first control signal of the plurality of control signals;

the second conduction path comprising a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor connected in series between the first wires of the first and second data ports, the first and second PMOS transistors being controlled by a second control signal of the plurality of control signals, the second control signal being complementary to the first control signal;

the third conduction path comprising a third NMOS transistor and a fourth NMOS transistor connected in series between the second wires of the first and second data ports, the third and fourth NMOS transistors being controlled by a third control signal of the plurality of control signals; and

the fourth conduction path comprising a third PMOS transistor and a fourth PMOS transistor connected in series between the second wires of the first and second data ports, the third and fourth PMOS transistors being controlled by a fourth control signal of the plurality of control signals, the fourth control signal being complementary to the third control signal,

wherein the first and second control signals are complementary signals and the third and fourth control signals are complementary signals operative to turn on the first, second, third and fourth conduction paths to electrically connect the first data port to the second data port and to turn off the first, second, third and fourth conduction paths to electrically isolate the first data port from the second data port.

5. The relay switch of claim 4, wherein the switch circuit further comprises:

a first switch coupled to a node between the first and second NMOS transistors of the first conduction path and the power supply terminal, the first switch being operated in response to the first control signal to shunt the first conduction path to the power supply voltage signal when the first conduction path is turned off by the first control signal;

a second switch coupled to a node between the first and second PMOS transistors of the second conduction path and a ground potential, the second switch being operated in response to the second control signal to shunt the second conduction path to the ground potential when the second conduction path is turned off by the second control signal;

a third switch coupled to a node between the third and fourth NMOS transistors of the third conduction path and the power supply terminal, the third switch being operated in response to the third control signal to shunt the third conduction path to the power supply voltage signal when the third conduction path is turned off by the third control signal; and

a fourth switch coupled to a node between the third and fourth PMOS transistors of the fourth conduction path and the ground potential, the fourth switch being operated in response to the fourth control signal to shunt the fourth conduction path to the ground potential when the fourth conduction path is turned off by the fourth control signal.

6. The relay switch circuit of claim 5, wherein the first and third switches each comprises a PMOS transistor and the second and fourth switches each comprises an NMOS transistor.

7. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the energy detect circuit comprises:

a first detect circuit for measuring the energy of the incoming signals on the first data port and generating the first energy detect signal; and

a second detect circuit for measuring the energy of the incoming signals on the second data port and generating the second energy detect signal;

each of the first and second detect circuit comprising;

a first transistor of a first type having a first current handling terminal coupled to a first wire of the respective first or second data port, a control terminal coupled to a second wire of the respective first or second data port, and a second current handling terminal coupled to a first node;

a second transistor of the first type having a first current handling terminal coupled to the second wire of the respective first or second data port, a control terminal coupled to the first wire of the respective first or second data port, and a second current handling terminal coupled to a second node;

a first resistor coupled between the first node and an output node;

a second resistor coupled between the second node and the output node;

a third resistor coupled between the output node and a ground potential; and

a capacitor coupled between the output node and the ground potential, the respective first or second energy detect signal being generated at the output node,

wherein the resistance values of the first, second, and third resistors and the capacitance value of the capacitor are selected to establish a time constant for the respective first and second detect circuit, the time constant being selected to allow the capacitor to collect charge when the incoming signals have a high pulse density, the high pulse density being indicative of a high energy level in the incoming signals.

8. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more control signals comprise a plurality of control signals, the plurality of control signals comprising one or more pairs of complementary control signals, the control signal generator circuit comprises:

a first generator circuit coupled to receive the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports and the power supply voltage signal, the first generator circuit generating a first pair of complementary precursor control signals on respective first and second main control nodes;

a second generator circuit coupled to receive the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports and the power supply voltage signal, the second generator circuit generating a second pair of complementary precursor control signals on respective third and fourth main control nodes;

a first energy detect control circuit coupled to receive the first energy detect signal and coupled to drive the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes to cause the switch circuit to open when the first energy detect signal has the first state; and

a second energy detect control circuit coupled to receive the second energy detect signal and coupled to drive the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes to cause the switch circuit to open when the second energy detect signal has the first state,

wherein the first pair of complementary precursor control signals and the second pair of complementary precursor control signals correspond to a first pair of complementary control signals and a second pair of complementary control signals, respectively.

9. The relay switch circuit of claim 8, wherein the first and second generator circuits comprise:

a plurality of positive wave selectors, a first group of positive wave selectors being coupled to accumulate energy from positive-going or negative-going waves of incoming signals from the first data port, a second group of positive wave selectors being coupled to accumulate energy from positive-going or negative-going waves of incoming signals from the second data port;

each of the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes being coupled to receive energy from a positive wave selector from the first group and a positive wave selector from the second group, each main control node generating one precursor control signal of the first and second pairs of complementary precursor control signals; and

a plurality of power supply control circuits each associated with one of the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes, each power supply control circuit being coupled to receive the power supply voltage signal and coupled to drive the associated main control node to a logical state for causing the switch circuit to open when the power supply voltage signal indicates a valid power supply voltage.

10. The relay switch circuit of claim 8, wherein the control signal generator circuit further comprises a plurality of latch circuits coupled to the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes, the plurality of latch circuits receiving the first and second pairs of complementary precursor control signals and generating the first and second pairs of complementary control signals, wherein when a first precursor control signal in the first pair of complementary precursor control signals is being driven to a first state, an associated latch circuit is coupled to drive a second control signal in the first pair of complementary control signal to a second state, complementary to the first state.

11. The relay switch circuit of claim 8, wherein the control signal generator circuit further comprises:

a first latch circuit coupled to receive the first pair of complementary precursor control signals, the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports, and the power supply voltage signal, the first latch circuit generating the first pair of complementary control signals having the same logical state as the first pair of complementary precursor control signals and having boosted voltage values; and

a second latch circuit coupled to receive the second pair of complementary precursor control signals, the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports, and the power supply voltage signal, the second latch circuit generating the second pair of complementary control signals having the same logical state as the second pair of complementary precursor control signals and having boosted voltage values,

wherein the first and second generator circuits generate at least one precursor control signal in a pair of complementary precursor control signals, the first and second latch circuits operate to drive the control signal corresponding to the other precursor control signal in the pair of complementary precursor control signals to a complementary state.

12. The relay switch circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more control signals comprise a plurality of control signals, the plurality of control signals comprising one or more pairs of complementary control signals, the control signal generator circuit comprises:

a first generator circuit coupled to receive the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports and the power supply voltage signal, the first generator circuit generating a first pair of complementary precursor control signals on respective first and second main control nodes;

a second generator circuit coupled to receive the incoming data signals from the first and second data ports and the power supply voltage signal, the second generator circuit generating a second pair of complementary precursor control signals on respective third and fourth main control nodes;

a first Vdd/energy detect control circuit coupled to receive the power supply voltage signal and the first energy detect signal and coupled to drive the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes to cause the switch circuit to open when the power supply voltage signal indicates a valid power supply voltage and when the first energy detect signal has the first state; and

a second Vdd/energy detect control circuit coupled to receive the power supply voltage signal and the second energy detect signal and coupled to control the first, second, third and fourth main control nodes to cause the switch circuit to open when the power supply voltage signal indicates a valid power supply voltage and when the second energy detect signal has the first state,

wherein the first pair of complementary precursor control signals and the second pair of complementary precursor control signals correspond to a first pair of complementary control signals and a second pair of complementary control signals, respectively.

13. The relay switch of claim 1, wherein the power supply voltage signal indicates a valid power supply voltage when the power supply voltage signal has a voltage level greater than a predetermined voltage level threshold and the power supply voltage signal indicates an invalid power supply voltage when the power supply voltage signal has a voltage level less than or equal to the predetermined voltage level threshold.

14. A method for operating a relay switch connected between a first data port and a second data port and receiving a power supply voltage signal, the method comprising:

measuring the voltage level of the power supply voltage signal;

measuring an energy level of incoming signals on either one of the first and second data ports;

opening the relay switch to isolate the first and second data ports when the voltage level of the power supply voltage signal is greater than a predetermined supply voltage threshold level;

opening the relay switch to isolate the first and second data ports when the voltage level of the power supply voltage signal is equal to or below the predetermined supply voltage threshold level and the energy level of the incoming signals on either one of the first and second data ports is greater than a predetermined energy threshold level; and

closing the relay switch to electrically connect the first and second data ports when the voltage level of the power supply voltage signal is equal to or below the predetermined supply voltage threshold level and the energy level of the incoming signals on either one of the first and second data ports is less than or equal to the predetermined energy threshold level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the relay switch comprises a plurality of pairs of complementary conduction paths connecting the wires of the first data port to the wires of the second data port, the method further comprises:

shunting a first conduction path in each pair of complementary conduction paths to the power supply voltage signal when the relay switch is open; and

shunting a second conduction path in each pair of complementary conduction paths to a ground potential when the relay switch is open.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first data port and the second data port each comprises a pair of wires carrying differential signals, measuring an energy level of incoming signals on either one of the first and second data ports comprises:

accumulating energy from first transitions of the incoming signals being carried on the pairs of wires of the first data port and the second data port; and

collecting charge at a charge storage device at a first time constant,

wherein the first time constant is selected to allow charge to accumulate at the charge storage device when the incoming signals have a high pulse density.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein collecting charge at a charge storage device at a first time constant comprises:

accumulating charge onto and removing charge from the charge storage device at a rate determined by the first time constant, a net charge accumulated on the charge storage device being a function of the pulse density of the incoming signals.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the relay switch comprises a plurality of pairs of complementary conduction paths connecting the wires of the first data port to the wires of the second data port, the method further comprises:

generating one or more control signals in response to the voltage level of the power supply voltage signal and the energy level of the incoming signals, each control signal of the one or more control signals driving a conduction path in the plurality of pairs of complementary conduction paths; and

opening the relay switch and closing the relay switch in response to the one or more control signals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating one or more control signals comprises:

providing a plurality of pairs of complementary precursor control signals, each precursor control signal corresponding to a control signal in the one or more control signals;

generating at least one precursor control signal in a pair of complementary precursor control signals; and

driving a control signal corresponding to the other precursor control signal in the pair of complementary precursor control signals to a complementary state.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating one or more control signals further comprises:

driving the control signals corresponding to the pair of complementary precursor control signals through feedback to boost the voltage values of the control signals.