Accurate Current Sensing in Multiphase Voltage Regulators
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Summary
Problems
Conventional multiphase voltage regulators struggle to accurately sense current flow, leading to unreliable over-current protection and inaccurate current and voltage regulation due to the inability to measure current on the secondary side of transformers, which affects the performance of high-performance computing systems.
Innovation solutions
A trans-inductor voltage regulator that includes a first current sensing circuit to measure current through the primary winding of a transformer and a second current sensing circuit to measure current through a compensation inductor, with a filter modifying the secondary measurement to generate an accurate total current measurement.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If DCR sensing circuit is used to sense current through primary winding, then current sensing is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to sense secondary side current
Why choose this principle:
The patent introduces a compensation inductor as an intermediary element connected to the secondary winding. This inductor carries the secondary current and provides a measurable voltage drop that serves as a mediator to indirectly sense the secondary side current, which cannot be directly measured by the primary-side DCR sensing circuit alone.
Principle concept:
If DCR sensing circuit is used to sense current through primary winding, then current sensing is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to sense secondary side current
Why choose this principle:
The patent implements feedback by measuring the voltage across the compensation inductor and using this measurement to correct or supplement the primary winding current sensing. This feedback mechanism allows the system to account for secondary side current effects, improving overall measurement precision without significantly increasing circuit complexity.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A trans-inductor voltage regulator that includes a first current sensing circuit to measure current through the primary winding of a transformer and a second current sensing circuit to measure current through a compensation inductor, with a filter modifying the secondary measurement to generate an accurate total current measurement.
Abstract
Disclosed is a trans-inductor voltage regulator that includes a first current sensing circuit, a second current sensing circuit, a filter, and a voltage regulator. The first current sensing circuit generates a first measurement associated with a current flowing through a primary winding of a transformer and the second current sensing circuit generates a second measurement associated with a current flowing through a compensation inductor coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The filter is coupled to the second current sensing and modifies the second measurement to generate a modified second measurement. In operation, the voltage regulator controls the switching module based on the first measurement and the measurement second measurement.