17932794. LOW-CURRENT VOLTAGE SOURCE WATCHDOG simplified abstract (International Business Machines Corporation)

LOW-CURRENT VOLTAGE SOURCE WATCHDOG

Organization Name

International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor(s)

Mark K. Hoffmeyer of Rochester MN (US)

Matthew Doyle of Chatfield MN (US)

Kyle Schoneck of Rochester MN (US)

Layne A. Berge of Rochester MN (US)

Matthew A. Walther of Rochester MN (US)

Thomas W. Liang of Rochester MN (US)

John R. Dangler of Rochester MN (US)

Jason J. Bjorgaard of Rochester MN (US)

LOW-CURRENT VOLTAGE SOURCE WATCHDOG - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17932794 titled 'LOW-CURRENT VOLTAGE SOURCE WATCHDOG

Simplified Explanation

The voltage source watchdog described in the patent application is a safety device that includes a passive device with an electromigration joint. This joint will create an electromigration void after a specified amount of current passes through it, leading to a safety mode situation where voltage is no longer sensed. This can help extend the life of a battery by selectively enabling voltage measurement operations.

• The passive device in the voltage source watchdog includes an electromigration joint made of known materials.
• The electromigration joint creates a void after a specified amount of current passes through it.
• Once the void is created, voltage is no longer sensed, providing a safety mode situation.
• The watchdog can be particularly useful when the voltage source is a battery, as it can help extend the battery life by selectively enabling voltage measurement operations.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in various electronic devices and systems where voltage monitoring and safety are critical, such as in battery-powered devices, power supplies, and electrical circuits.

Problems Solved

1. Ensures safety by detecting when a specified amount of current has passed through the device. 2. Helps extend battery life by selectively enabling voltage measurement operations.

Benefits

1. Enhanced safety features in electronic devices. 2. Increased battery life in battery-powered devices. 3. Improved reliability of voltage monitoring systems.

Potential Commercial Applications

"Voltage Source Watchdog: Enhancing Safety and Battery Life in Electronic Devices"

Possible Prior Art

There may be prior art related to electromigration joints and safety devices in electronic circuits, but specific examples are not provided in the patent application.

Unanswered Questions

How does the voltage source watchdog impact the overall efficiency of the electronic device?

The article does not address how the watchdog may affect the efficiency of the device in terms of power consumption or performance.

Are there any potential drawbacks or limitations to using the voltage source watchdog in electronic devices?

The article does not mention any potential drawbacks or limitations that may arise from implementing the voltage source watchdog technology.

Original Abstract Submitted

A voltage source watchdog comprising a passive device is placed in series between a voltage source and a load. The passive device includes an electromigration (EM) joint of known materials that will create an electromigration void after a specified amount of current passes through the EM joint. After a known amount of current as passed through, a void is created and a voltage will no longer be sensed, thus providing a sure safety mode situation. When the voltage source is a battery, the battery life may be extended by selectively enabling voltage measurement operations for the proposed watchdog.