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How can switched capacitors replace resistors in tiny ICs and become the core of future circuits?
With the rapid development of technology, the size of electronic components continues to shrink, and we expect circular or square circuit designs to become increasingly miniaturized. In such an environment, the status of traditional resistors is challenged, and switched capacitor (SC) technology is gradually becoming the core of future circuit design. This article will explore how switched capacitors replaced resistors in tiny integrated circuits and analyze how this change has promoted the development of electronic engineering.
How Switched Capacitors Work
A switched capacitor is an electronic circuit that uses rapid switching to control the movement of charge between capacitors. Such circuits typically use non-overlapping clock signals to control the operation of the switches, ensuring that not all switches are turned on at the same time. This design can effectively utilize the mechanism of capacitance to achieve a similar linear relationship between current and voltage.
Since the switched capacitor process does not rely on precise resistors, filters designed based on capacitance ratios and switching frequencies are used instead, which allows for more flexible parameter adjustment capabilities.
Advantages of Switched Capacitors in ICs
Switched capacitor circuits are typically built on metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) technology, which makes them ideal for use in integrated circuits. One significant advantage is that the cost and process complexity of building resistors and capacitors to precise specifications are greatly reduced, while the relative ratio between highly accurate clock signals and capacitors is more economical.
Application Areas
Switched capacitor circuits are widely used. For example, switched capacitor technology has been used in digital-to-analog converters (DACs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), pulse code modulation (PCM) encoders, and other environments. The flexibility and efficiency of these circuits make them essential to the design of future electronic devices.
Challenges of Traditional Resistors
Compared with switched capacitor analog resistors, the current transmission method of traditional resistors is continuous, while that of switched capacitors is in a pulsed manner. When the switching frequency is high enough, the switched capacitor can effectively mimic the characteristics of a resistor. However, this simulation requires a programmed or rapidly adjusted clock, which is what modern electronic devices pursue.By increasing the switching frequency, switched capacitors can more effectively reduce Johnson-Nyquist noise, making them more competitive in high-precision applications.
Ways to go
Looking into the future, the advantages offered by switched capacitor technology could lead to smaller, more efficient electronic devices and systems. As circuit design and manufacturing techniques continue to improve, switched capacitors have the potential to completely replace traditional resistors and become the mainstay of electronic systems. This will not only improve product performance, but will also affect overall economic benefits, save resources and reduce costs.
ConclusionOverall, the development of switched capacitors is based on their unique technical advantages, which enable them to effectively replace traditional resistors in tiny IC designs. To understand the far-reaching significance of this technology for future electronic technology, perhaps we need to think about: With the popularization of switched capacitor technology, how will future electronic devices change our lives?
