Method and apparatus for ground bounce and power supply bounce detection
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting ground bounce or power supply bounce, or both, comprising:
- receiving a reference voltage;
coupling a first input of an amplifier through a capacitor directly to a voltage rail to be measured;
balancing said amplifier based on a quiescent non-bouncing state of said voltage rail using said reference voltage and a resistor coupled between the first input and a second input of the amplifier;
measuring a bounce on said voltage rail in a non-quiescent state of said voltage rail, wherein said measuring is performed using;
a sample and hold circuit having an input and an output, said input coupled to said amplifier output; and
an analog to digital converter having an analog input and one or more digital outputs, said analog input coupled to said sample and hold output, said one or more digital outputs capable of communicating results of an analog to digital conversion; and
reporting said measurement.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for ground bounce and power supply bounce detection in devices have been disclosed. In one case one input to a differential amplifier is coupled to a reference voltage and another input to the differential amplifier is coupled to a measurement point and the output of the differential amplifier is coupled to a flip flop. The flip flop has an output indicating when a bounce threshold is exceeded.
17 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for detecting ground bounce or power supply bounce, or both, comprising:
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receiving a reference voltage; coupling a first input of an amplifier through a capacitor directly to a voltage rail to be measured; balancing said amplifier based on a quiescent non-bouncing state of said voltage rail using said reference voltage and a resistor coupled between the first input and a second input of the amplifier; measuring a bounce on said voltage rail in a non-quiescent state of said voltage rail, wherein said measuring is performed using;
a sample and hold circuit having an input and an output, said input coupled to said amplifier output; and
an analog to digital converter having an analog input and one or more digital outputs, said analog input coupled to said sample and hold output, said one or more digital outputs capable of communicating results of an analog to digital conversion; andreporting said measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for detecting ground bounce or power supply bounce, or both, comprising:
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a first amplifier having a first input, a second input, and an output; an input that receives a reference voltage, said received reference voltage directly coupled to said first amplifier first input, said first amplifier input directly coupled through a resistor to said first amplifier second input; a capacitor having an input and an output, said capacitor output directly connected to said amplifier second input, and said capacitor input directly coupled to a measurement point; and a bounce detection circuit having an input, said input directly coupled to said first amplifier output, wherein said bounce detection circuit comprises; a differential amplifier having a first input, a second input, and an output, said first input coupled to said first amplifier output, said second input coupled to a trip point reference voltage; and a flip-flop having an input, an output, and a reset, said input coupled to said differential amplifier output, said output capable of retaining information, and said reset capable of resetting said flip-flop. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for detecting ground bounce or power supply bounce, or both, comprising:
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means for receiving a reference voltage; means for coupling through a capacitor an input of an amplifier directly to a voltage rail to be measured; means for balancing said amplifier based on a quiescent non-bouncing state using said reference voltage; means for measuring a bounce on said voltage rail in a non-quiescent state, wherein said means comprises a differential amplifier having a first input, a second input, and an output, said first input coupled to said first amplifier output, said second input coupled to a trip point reference voltage; and a flip-flop having an input, an output, and a reset, said input coupled to said differential amplifier output, said output capable of retaining information, and said reset capable of resetting said flip-flop; and means for reporting said measurement. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification