Hybrid power supply architecture

Abstract

A hybrid power supply architecture including a microcontroller, a linear regulator, a first current sensing unit, a second current sensing unit, a switching regulator, a PWM controller and a hybrid output stage is disclosed. The linear and switching regulators respectively perform linear and switching regulation according to a first enable signal and a second enable signal generated by the microcontroller to generate a linear output power and a switching output power. The first and second current sensing units respectively generate a first current sensing signal and a second current sensing signal by sensing the linear and switching output powers. The microcontroller receives the first and second current sensing signals to determine a loading state. The switching regulator is enabled to actuate in case of heavy loading, and particularly the linear regulator is shut off only when the switching output power is stable, thereby implementing the best conversion efficiency.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the priority of Taiwanese patent application No. 103102177, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, which is incorporated herewith by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to a hybrid power supply architecture, and more specifically to a hybrid power supply architecture actuating a linear regulator and / or a switching regulator based on a loading state so as to achieve optimal electrical efficiency of seamless switching for supplying hybrid power.[0004]2. The Prior Arts[0005]For electronic devices with different electrical properties, it is generally needed to provide various power sources having appropriate voltage, current or electric power. For instance, electric motors are actuated by 12DCV, analog chips are fed with 3.3V, and digital chips operate at 1.8V. Therefore, power management manufacturers have developed kinds of power regulation device to meet ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention controls both a linear regulator and a switching regulator based on the loading state, which ensures efficient power conversion, especially during the switching period. By keeping both regulators working, the invention maintains stability of the output power and achieves seamless switching hybrid power supply, effectively protecting the external load.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, some voltage regulators with the function of stabilizing the output voltage are needed when the original input power is possibly unstable, like the city power resulting in instant fluctuation of the output voltage due to imbalance of loading.

Alternatively, when the output voltage or the output current becomes unstable because the ability of the power supply is limited and fierce variation of the loading is not overcome, the voltage regulator is also necessary.

Practically, both linear regulation and switching regulation consume part of electric power supplied by the input power, leading to inevitable operation loss which changes with the loading.

As a result, it is impossible to use only one of linear regulation and switching regulation to substantially reduce the overall operation loss when the variation range of loading is large, further causing low electrical efficiency.

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