A method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit

Abstract

The application discloses a method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit, which can reduce the standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit by reducing the working frequency of a microprocessor, and make the microprocessor smoothly switch to low-frequency working in the standby state of a switching power supply without changing the hardware of the switching power supply, so as to avoid the risk of changing the microprocessor register or RAM data caused by directly switching the frequency, and after actively reducing the power consumption, the running state of a real-time detection module can be detected in real time, so that the microprocessor can be switched to high-frequency working in real time when the working condition is met. The application not only guarantees the working efficiency of the microprocessor in the high-frequency state, but also guarantees the power consumption reduction of the wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit in the standby state of the switching power supply, reduces the risk of burning out the line field effect tube and other devices, realizes the characteristics of cascading input lines, wide input and output voltage drop range, stable output voltage and low standby power consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of digital power supply technology, and more specifically to a method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit for digital power supplies. Background Technology

[0002] Quiescent current, also known as standby power consumption, is an important performance indicator of linear regulators. Traditional linear regulators have very narrow input voltage ranges and small input-output voltage drops, which limits the selection of input voltage. On the other hand, wide-input-range linear regulators, due to their large input-output voltage drops, can burn out components such as MOSFETs if they experience high standby power consumption during prolonged continuous operation.

[0003] Under normal operating conditions, directly switching frequencies can cause interference, altering the data in the microprocessor registers or RAM (Random Access Memory) and leading to unpredictable problems during module operation. In automotive electronics, it's common to connect high-voltage batteries to the input. If the switching power supply has high standby power consumption, it can damage the preceding high-voltage battery, reducing standby time.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, a method is needed to reduce the standby power consumption of a wide-input-range linear regulator circuit without modifying the power module hardware or replacing the power module microprocessor. This method should ensure that the microprocessor's frequency smoothly switches to low-frequency operation during standby, thereby reducing the standby power consumption of the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the problems of existing circuits where direct frequency switching under normal operating conditions causes interference, altering data in microprocessor registers or RAM (Random Access Memory), and resulting in high power consumption in standby mode, potentially damaging MOSFETs and other devices during prolonged operation. The present invention provides a method for reducing standby power consumption in a wide-input-range linear regulator circuit. This method does not modify the hardware circuitry of the switching power supply or require replacing the microprocessor. It ensures a smooth frequency transition of the microprocessor to a lower operating frequency during standby, reducing standby power consumption in the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit and protecting MOSFETs and other devices, demonstrating promising application prospects.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] A method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit includes the following steps:

[0008] Step (A) sets the operating mode of the switching power supply that requires a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit to idle mode and normal mode. The operating mode of the switching power supply is switched by switching the frequency of the microprocessor in the power supply module. The microprocessor runs in normal mode when it is at a high frequency and in idle mode when it is at a low frequency.

[0009] In step (B), after the power supply is powered on for the first time, the microprocessor operates at a low frequency and the power supply directly enters the idle mode.

[0010] Step (C): The switching power supply in idle mode monitors its own operating status in real time through the microprocessor inside the switching power supply. When the working conditions need to be met, it switches to high-frequency mode in real time. If the switch is successful, the switching power supply enters normal mode and executes step (D). If the switch is not completed, the switching power supply stays in idle mode and tries to switch to high-frequency mode again until the switch is successful.

[0011] In step (D), the switching power supply in normal mode monitors its own operating status in real time through the microprocessor inside the switching power supply. If a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received, it switches to low-frequency mode in real time. If the switch is successful, the switching power supply enters idle mode and returns to step (C). If the switch is not completed and the switching power supply remains in normal mode, it tries to switch to low-frequency mode again until the switch is successful.

[0012] The aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit includes step (A), in which the microprocessor operates in normal mode at high frequency and in idle mode at low frequency, with the high frequency range being 8-32MHz and the low frequency range being 31kHz~1MHz.

[0013] In the aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit, step (C) involves the switching power supply in idle mode monitoring its own operating status in real time via a microprocessor within the power supply. When the operating conditions need to be met, the power supply switches to high-frequency operation in real time. A first frequency switching timeout period needs to be set. If the switching is completed within the first frequency switching timeout period, it is considered a successful switch; if the switching is not completed within the first frequency switching timeout period, it is considered an incomplete switch. The threshold for the first frequency switching timeout period is set to 5ms.

[0014] In the aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear regulator circuit, step (D) involves the switching power supply in normal mode monitoring its own operating status in real time via its internal microprocessor. If a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received, the power supply switches to low-frequency operation in real time. A second frequency switching timeout needs to be set. If the switching is completed within the second frequency switching timeout period, it is considered a successful switch; if it is not completed within the second frequency switching timeout period, it is considered an incomplete switch. The threshold for the second frequency switching timeout period is set to 8ms.

[0015] In the aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit, in step (C) or step (D), when the microprocessor in the switching power supply switches from low frequency to high frequency or from high frequency to low frequency, a certain delay time is required to allow the new clock to stabilize. Furthermore, the microprocessor in the switching power supply determines whether the microprocessor is operating in a high-frequency state or a low-frequency state based on the state of the oscillator and the state of the phase-locked loop. The delay time is set to be 8ms or more.

[0016] The aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit includes step (A): the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit includes a cascaded voltage regulator input line. The cascaded voltage regulator input line is cascaded, and the voltage is gradually regulated to the required low voltage range through a first-stage voltage regulator line and a second-stage voltage regulator line. Each cascaded voltage regulator line uses a field-effect transistor instead of a transistor as the regulating transistor.

[0017] The aforementioned method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit involves the following steps: when the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit is in idle mode, its internal microprocessor selects the cascaded voltage regulator input line for power supply and achieves linear voltage regulation through its internal LDO line, outputting the power supply voltage of the device and the power supply voltage of the microprocessor, and the microprocessor enters a low-frequency operating state.

[0018] When the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit is in normal mode, its internal microprocessor selects the auxiliary winding power supply line for power supply, and then uses the cascaded voltage regulator input line for power supply, and the microprocessor enters a high-frequency operating state.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit of this invention, without changing the hardware of the switching power supply (which requires the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit), allows the microprocessor to smoothly switch to low-frequency operation when the switching power supply switches from normal mode to idle mode in standby mode. This avoids the risk of changes in microprocessor register or RAM data caused by direct frequency switching. Moreover, after actively reducing power consumption, the operating status of the module can be detected in real time, and it can switch to high-frequency operation in real time when the operating conditions are met. This method ensures the operating efficiency of the microprocessor in high-frequency mode and also ensures reduced power consumption of the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit in standby mode, reducing the risk of burning out circuit field-effect transistors and other components. This invention achieves the characteristics of cascadeable input lines, wide input-output voltage drop range, stable output voltage, and low standby power consumption, and has broad application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a system block diagram of a switching power supply with a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a detailed flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a control timing diagram of a microprocessor in a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of symbols and components in the attached diagram:

[0025] A10: Instantaneous operating time of the switching power supply; Ti: Initial power-on time of the switching power supply; Tj: Normal operating time of the switching power supply; Tk: Fault operating time of the switching power supply; A20: Microprocessor operating status; Enter LF: Microprocessor switches to low frequency; Enter HF: Microprocessor switches to high frequency; A30: Module operating mode; idle: Idle mode; normal: Normal mode; A40: Microprocessor frequency signal; 10: Voltage regulator cascade circuit; 20: Power supply switching switch; 30: LDO circuit; 40: Auxiliary winding power supply circuit; 50: Microprocessor VINPUT: Input voltage signal; VOUTPUT: Output voltage signal (output device power supply voltage); S10~S90: Execution steps of an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0028] Step (A): Set the operating mode of the switching power supply that requires a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit to idle mode and normal mode. Switch the operating mode of the switching power supply by switching the frequency of the microprocessor in the power supply module. The microprocessor runs in normal mode when it is at a high frequency and in idle mode when it is at a low frequency. The high frequency range here is 8-32M and the low frequency range is 31kHz~1M.

[0029] In step (B), after the power supply is powered on for the first time, the microprocessor operates at a low frequency and the power supply directly enters the idle mode.

[0030] In step (C), the switching power supply in idle mode uses its internal microprocessor to monitor its operating status in real time. When the required operating conditions are met, it switches to high-frequency operation in real time. If the switch is successful, the switching power supply enters normal mode and proceeds to step (D). If the switch fails, the switching power supply remains in idle mode and attempts to switch back to high-frequency operation until the switch is successful. Since step (C) is continuously attempted until high-frequency operation is reached, the voltage output of the wide-input-range linear regulator circuit is only turned on in high-frequency operation. In low-frequency idle mode, the output is not turned on, so it is safe. Clock configuration continues until the high-frequency switch stabilizes before entering normal mode.

[0031] Here, a first frequency switching timeout needs to be set. If the switching is completed within the first frequency switching timeout, it is considered a successful switch; if it is not completed within the first frequency switching timeout, it is considered an incomplete switch. The threshold for this first frequency switching timeout is set to 5ms.

[0032] In step (D), the switching power supply in normal mode monitors its own operating status in real time through the microprocessor inside the power supply. If a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received, it switches to low-frequency mode in real time. If the switch is successful, the power supply enters idle mode and returns to step (C). If the switch is not completed and the power supply remains in normal mode, it tries to switch back to low-frequency mode until the switch is successful. Here, if a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received in normal mode, the output of the power supply will be automatically turned off. At this time, there is no voltage output, which is safe. In order to reduce power consumption, the high frequency is switched to low frequency (idle mode), which is safe. However, since the frequency in normal mode is very high, it will bring high standby power consumption, so it is necessary to switch to low frequency to prevent damage to circuit components.

[0033] Here, a second frequency switching timeout needs to be set. If the switching is completed within the second frequency switching timeout period, it is considered a successful switch; if it is not completed within the second frequency switching timeout period, it is considered an incomplete switch. The threshold for this second frequency switching timeout period is set to 8ms.

[0034] When the microprocessor inside the switching power supply switches from low frequency to high frequency or from high frequency to low frequency, it needs a certain delay time (greater than 8ms) to allow the new clock to stabilize. The microprocessor inside the switching power supply determines whether it is operating in a high-frequency or low-frequency state based on the state of the oscillator and the state of the phase-locked loop.

[0035] The wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit required by this invention (for example, in automotive electronics) includes a cascaded voltage regulator input circuit. This cascaded voltage regulator input circuit is arranged in a cascaded manner, gradually regulating the voltage to the required low voltage range through a first-stage voltage regulator circuit and a second-stage voltage regulator circuit. Each cascaded voltage regulator circuit uses a field-effect transistor instead of a transistor as the regulating transistor. When the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit is in idle mode, its internal microprocessor selects the cascaded voltage regulator input circuit for power supply and achieves linear voltage regulation through its internal LDO circuit, outputting the power supply voltage of the device and the power supply voltage of the microprocessor, and the microprocessor enters a low-frequency operating state.

[0036] When the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit is in normal mode, its internal microprocessor selects the auxiliary winding power supply line for power supply, and then uses the cascaded voltage regulator input line for power supply, and the microprocessor enters a high-frequency operating state.

[0037] like Figure 2 The diagram shows a system block diagram of a switching power supply according to an embodiment of the wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit of the present invention. When the switching power supply is in standby mode, it operates in idle mode. The high-voltage input signal VINPUT is connected to the cascaded voltage regulator circuit 10. After first-stage and second-stage voltage regulation, it is connected to the power supply switching switch 20 in a cascaded manner to gradually regulate the voltage to a low voltage range for powering the circuit devices. Each cascaded circuit uses a field-effect transistor as a regulating transistor to distribute the power consumption of the circuit and reduce the risk of PN junction overheating and burning due to continuous high current. Then, it is connected to the LDO circuit 30 to power the microprocessor 50. The output signal is VOUTPUT (output device power supply voltage).

[0038] When the switching power supply is operating in normal mode, the microprocessor 50 controls the input voltage signal to undergo DC / DC conversion to obtain the supply voltage VOUTPUT for the corresponding circuit devices (i.e., the supply voltage for the output devices). After the target voltage VOUTPUT stabilizes, the microprocessor 50 controls the power supply switching switch 20 to switch to the auxiliary winding line 40 for power supply, which then connects to the LDO line 30 to supply power to the microprocessor 50, forming a closed-loop feedback control. Finally, the power supply switching circuit is connected to the microprocessor via a switch pin. The microprocessor selects to switch between the cascaded voltage regulator line 10 or the auxiliary winding power supply line 40 according to the current operating mode of the switching power supply, and finally converts the output voltage VOUTPUT through the LDO line 30.

[0039] The following is combined Figure 3 and Figure 4 This paper introduces a specific embodiment of a method for reducing standby power consumption in a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit according to the present invention.

[0040] Step S10: After the switching power supply is initially powered on, it is at time Ti. The power supply is provided by the wide input range linear regulator circuit 10. The switching power supply's operating mode A30 is idle mode. The microprocessor 50 will perform a series of initialization tasks, including initialization of the main frequency and peripheral functions. After initialization, it will actively enter low-frequency operation to reduce the standby power consumption of the control circuit. Figure 2 It can be seen that the power line wide input range linear regulator 10 and LDO line 30 are connected in series. Reducing the control line current can also reduce the power line current, so as to reduce the standby power consumption of the wide input range linear regulator. At the same time, the microprocessor 50 will obtain the external hard-wired switch status of the switching power supply and the module fault status.

[0041] Step S20: When the switching power supply needs to be powered on, the microprocessor 50 will check whether the power-on conditions are met based on the reported status. If they are met, it will jump to step S30. At this time, the switching power supply is in normal working mode and is running at the normal operating time of the switching power supply. The microprocessor 50 will switch the main frequency from low frequency to high frequency and enable the peripherals (loads) to run, and then perform the power-on operation. In this step S20, the microprocessor 50 will set a first frequency switching timeout. If the main frequency fails to switch from low frequency to high frequency within the timeout period, it will continue to stay in step S20 and perform the high frequency switching operation again. The switching power supply working mode A30 will continue to stay in idle mode, and the microprocessor 50 will still work at low frequency. At that time, the microprocessor 50 will judge the oscillator and phase-locked loop signals. Here, the oscillator and phase-locked loop need a certain stabilization time after frequency switching. Only after ensuring that it has entered high frequency and that the peripheral functions are stable can it enter step S30.

[0042] Step S30: After the microprocessor 50 successfully switches to high frequency, in order to prevent the high main frequency from causing high power consumption to the wide input range linear regulator circuit 10, the microprocessor 50 will switch the power supply mode of the switching power supply from the wide input range linear regulator circuit 10 to the auxiliary winding line 40 by switching the power supply switch pin, and then jump to step S40.

[0043] Step S40: The microprocessor 50 determines that the switching power supply has not failed or the external hardwired switch is in the open state, indicating that the high-frequency operation of the switching power supply is normal. At this time, the module working mode A30 is still in the normal mode, and then jumps to step S50.

[0044] Step S50: The switching power supply continues to be powered by the auxiliary winding line 40, and the microprocessor 50 continues to operate at a high frequency.

[0045] Step S60: After the switching power supply is powered on, the microprocessor 50 will periodically check the status of the external hardwire switch and the fault status. The fault status includes short circuit, input overvoltage, input undervoltage, overtemperature, overcurrent, output undervoltage, etc. When the microprocessor 50 determines that the switching power supply has failed or the external hardwire is in the off state, it indicates that the switching power supply is operating abnormally or has received a shutdown signal, and jumps to step S70. At this time, the switching power supply jumps to the Tk fault time.

[0046] Step S70: The switching power supply performs a power-off operation. The microprocessor switches the module power supply mode from auxiliary winding power supply 40 to wide input range linear regulator circuit 10 power supply by switching the power supply switch pin. At this time, the switching power supply working mode A30 returns from normal mode to idle mode, and jumps to step S80.

[0047] Step S80: The microprocessor 50 switches from high frequency to low frequency and disables a small number of unused peripheral functions to minimize standby power consumption. At this time, the microprocessor 50 will still set a second frequency switching timeout. If the low frequency switching is successful within the timeout period, it will return to step S10. If the low frequency switching is unsuccessful, it will stay in step S80 and the microprocessor 50 will perform the low frequency switching operation again. At this time, the oscillator will be judged. The oscillator still needs a certain stabilization time after the switch. Only after ensuring that it has entered the low frequency can it enter step S10.

[0048] In summary, the method for reducing standby power consumption of the wide input range linear regulator circuit of the present invention, without changing the hardware of the switching power supply (which requires the wide input range linear regulator circuit), enables the microprocessor to smoothly switch to low-frequency operation when the switching power supply switches from normal mode to idle mode in standby mode. This avoids the risk of changes in microprocessor register or RAM data caused by direct frequency switching. Moreover, after actively reducing power consumption, the operating status of the module can be monitored in real time, and it can switch to high-frequency operation in real time when the operating conditions are met. This method ensures the operating efficiency of the microprocessor in high-frequency mode and also ensures that the power consumption of the wide input range linear regulator circuit is reduced in standby mode, reducing the risk of burning out circuit field-effect transistors and other components. The present invention achieves the characteristics of cascadeable input lines, wide input-output voltage drop range, stable output voltage, and low standby power consumption, and has broad application prospects.

[0049] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for reducing standby power consumption of a wide input range linear voltage regulator circuit, comprising: It comprises the following steps, ​ Step (A), the working mode of the switching power supply requiring a wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit is set to idle mode and normal mode, the working mode of the switching power supply is switched by switching the frequency of the microprocessor in the switching power supply module, the microprocessor runs in normal mode at high frequency, and the microprocessor runs in idle mode at low frequency; Step (B), after the switching power supply is powered on for the first time, the microprocessor works in a low-frequency mode, and the switching power supply directly enters idle mode; Step (C), the switching power supply in idle mode detects the running state of the switching power supply in real time through the microprocessor in the switching power supply, and switches to a high-frequency mode in real time when the working condition needs to be met, if the switching is successful, the switching power supply enters normal mode, and step (D) is executed; if the switching is not completed, the switching power supply stays in idle mode, and the switching to the high-frequency mode is re-performed until the switching is successful; Step (D), the switching power supply in normal mode detects the running state of the switching power supply in real time through the microprocessor in the switching power supply, and switches to a low-frequency mode in real time if a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received, if the switching is successful, the switching power supply enters idle mode, and step (C) is returned to be executed; if the switching is not completed, and the switching power supply stays in normal mode, and the switching to the low-frequency mode is re-performed until the switching is successful, In step (C), the switching power supply in idle mode detects the running state of the switching power supply in real time through the microprocessor in the switching power supply, and switches to a high-frequency mode in real time when the working condition needs to be met, a first frequency switching timeout needs to be set, if the switching is completed within the first frequency switching timeout, it is judged that the switching is successful; if the switching is not completed within the first frequency switching timeout, it is judged that the switching is not completed, the threshold of the first frequency switching timeout is set to 5ms, In step (D), the switching power supply in normal mode detects the running state of the switching power supply in real time through the microprocessor in the switching power supply, and switches to a low-frequency mode in real time if a fault occurs or a hard-wired shutdown signal is received, a second frequency switching timeout needs to be set, if the switching is completed within the second frequency switching timeout, it is judged that the switching is successful; if the switching is not completed within the second frequency switching timeout, it is judged that the switching is not completed, the threshold of the second frequency switching timeout is set to 8ms, When the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit is in idle mode, the microprocessor in the switching power supply selects a voltage stabilizing cascade input circuit for power supply, and realizes linear voltage stabilization through an internal LDO circuit, outputs a device power supply voltage and a microprocessor power supply voltage, and the microprocessor enters a low-frequency working state; When the switching power supply of the wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit is in normal mode, the microprocessor in the switching power supply selects an auxiliary winding power supply circuit for power supply, and realizes voltage stabilization through an LDO circuit, and the microprocessor enters a high-frequency working state, In the step (A), the microprocessor runs in normal mode at high frequency and runs in idle mode at low frequency, the high frequency range is 8-32M, and the low frequency range is 31khz~1M; in the step (C) or the step (D), when the microprocessor in the switching power supply switches from low frequency to high frequency or from high frequency to low frequency, a certain delay time is needed to stabilize the new clock, and the microprocessor in the switching power supply determines the working state of the microprocessor in high frequency or low frequency according to the state of the oscillator and the state of the phase-locked loop, and the delay time is set to 8ms or more.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: In the step (A), the switching power supply with wide input range linear voltage stabilizing circuit comprises a voltage stabilizing cascade input circuit which adopts a cascade form, gradually stabilizes the voltage to the required low voltage range through a first-stage voltage stabilizing circuit and a second-stage voltage stabilizing circuit, and each cascade voltage stabilizing circuit uses a field effect tube to replace a triode as an adjusting tube.

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