A power supply method, a power supply system, and an electronic device

Abstract

This application provides a power supply method, a power supply system, and an electronic device. The method includes obtaining the load state of a power-consuming module; if the load state is a first state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on a first power supply mode; the first power supply mode includes converting an input voltage into a first voltage based on a first voltage converter, and converting the first voltage into a second voltage based on a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter; if the load state is a second state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on a second power supply mode; the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode, and converting the input voltage into a third voltage based on at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power supply technology for electronic devices, and particularly to a power supply method, power supply system and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] As users' tasks with electronic devices change and the usage scenarios increase, higher demands are placed on the energy efficiency, power supply efficiency, and long battery life of electronic devices. Therefore, it is necessary to improve battery life. However, although the power supply methods in related technologies can improve battery life, they consume more power, which increases costs and makes them unsuitable for different application scenarios of electronic devices. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a power supply method, a power supply system, and an electronic device.

[0004] The embodiments of this application adopt the following technical solution: a power supply method, comprising:

[0005] Obtain the load status of the power module; If the load state is a first state, power is supplied to the power module based on a first power supply mode; the first power supply mode includes converting the input voltage into a first voltage based on a first voltage converter, and converting the first voltage into a second voltage based on a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter; If the load state is the second state, power is supplied to the power module based on the second power supply mode; the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode, and the input voltage is converted into a third voltage based on at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter.

[0006] In some embodiments, if the load state is a first state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on a first power supply mode includes: If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, power is supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode; If the load state is in the second state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on the second power supply mode includes: If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the number of the third voltage converters is determined based on the load demand, wherein the number of the third voltage converters is positively correlated with the magnitude of the load demand; Based on the number of the third voltage converters, the second power supply mode is determined, and power is supplied to the power module based on the second power supply mode.

[0007] In some embodiments, determining the number of the third voltage converters based on load demand includes: The current parameters of the power module are determined based on the load requirements; The number of the third voltage converters is determined based on the current parameters of the power module and the rated load capacity of the second and third voltage converters.

[0008] In some embodiments, obtaining the load status of the power module includes at least one of the following: Obtain the voltage and / or current parameters of the power module, and determine the load status of the power module based on the voltage and / or current parameters; Receive the load indication signal sent by the power consumption module, and determine the load status of the power consumption module based on the load indication signal; Obtain the system resource utilization rate of the power consumption module, and determine the load status of the power consumption module based on the system resource utilization rate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method further includes: Based on the current parameters of the power module, the number of the second voltage converter and the number of the third voltage converter, the phase current of the second voltage converter and each of the third voltage converters is allocated.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method further includes: Send control signals to the second voltage converter, or to both the second and third voltage converters respectively, the control signals including start signals and operating parameter signals; The second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, operate according to the operating parameter signal; The output current of the second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, is summarized and filtered to obtain the power consumption current; The electrical current is transmitted to the power module.

[0011] This application embodiment also provides a power supply system for supplying power to a power-consuming module; The power supply system includes: A battery or power adapter, which provides the input voltage; The first power supply path includes: A first voltage converter, connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage into a first voltage; The second voltage converter, which is connected in series with the first voltage converter, is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage; A second power supply path, which is connected in parallel with the first power supply path, includes: At least one third voltage converter is used to convert the input voltage into a third voltage.

[0012] In some embodiments, the power supply system has a first power supply mode and a second power supply mode, wherein the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode; If the load state of the power module is the first state, the power supply system uses the first power supply mode to supply power to the power module, in order to provide the second voltage to the power module; If the load state of the power module is the second state, the power supply system uses the second power supply mode to supply power to the power module, which is used to provide the second voltage and the third voltage to the power module.

[0013] In some embodiments, the power supply system further includes a control module disposed on the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the control module determining the number of the third voltage converter based on the load demand of the power consumption module and sending a control signal; If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, the first control module on the first power supply path sends a control signal to the second voltage converter; If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the second control module on the second power supply path sends a control signal to the third voltage converter; The control signals include start signals and operating parameter signals.

[0014] This application embodiment also provides an electronic device, the electronic device including a power supply system, the power supply system being used to supply power to a power-consuming module; The power supply system includes: A battery or power adapter, which provides the input voltage; The first power supply path includes: A first voltage converter, connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage into a first voltage; The second voltage converter, which is connected in series with the first voltage converter, is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage; A second power supply path, which is connected in parallel with the first power supply path, includes: At least one third voltage converter is used to convert the input voltage into a third voltage. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or related technologies of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a traditional power supply method.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another power supply method.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another power supply method.

[0019] Figure 4 This application presents a schematic diagram of the power supply method.

[0020] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating the power supply method for this application.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the power supply system of this application.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the power supply system of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Various embodiments and features of this application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] It should be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein. Therefore, the above description should not be considered as limiting, but merely as an example of embodiments. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of this application will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the present application given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0026] These and other features of this application will become apparent from the following description of preferred forms of embodiments given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] It should also be understood that although this application has been described with reference to some specific examples, those skilled in the art can certainly implement many other equivalent forms of this application.

[0028] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of this application will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in view of the following detailed description.

[0029] Specific embodiments of this application are described thereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the claimed embodiments are merely examples of this application, which can be implemented in various ways. Well-known and / or repeated functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary or redundant details that could obscure the application. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details claimed herein are not intended to be limiting, but merely serve as the basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to use this application in a variety of substantially any suitable detailed structures.

[0030] This specification may use the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” “in yet another embodiment,” or “in other embodiments,” all of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to this application.

[0031] First, let's introduce the application scenarios of this application. Currently, various countries are increasing energy efficiency requirements for desktop computers / AIO (All-in-One) and laptops are facing increasingly stringent requirements for battery life. To improve battery life, some companies are reducing power consumption from the perspective of SOC (System-on-a-Chip) to enhance battery life. For example, with the emergence of demanding games and short videos with higher rendering requirements, these usage scenarios are placing higher demands on the battery life of electronic devices. Taking mobile portable devices as an example, their power supply mainly relies on batteries. Users' demands for battery life are constantly increasing. They need to meet the long-term operation of basic functions such as daily office work, entertainment, and communication, as well as support medium-load scenarios such as high-definition video playback and light computing, while controlling device heat (avoiding overheating and performance throttling due to high power consumption).

[0032] A traditional power supply method such as Figure 1 As shown, in order to solve the power supply efficiency problem, one power supply method for electronic devices is as follows: Figure 2 The image shows the voltage supplied directly from the battery / adapter to power multi-phase VRs (multi-phase voltage regulators) to be converted to the voltage required by the power-consuming module (e.g., CPU: central processing unit). However, this power supply method does not improve battery life.

[0033] Another way to power electronic devices is as follows: Figure 3As shown, the battery / power adapter directly supplies voltage to the first-stage 3-level buck converter to step down to 4.5V, and then supplies it to the VIN (Voltage Input) of the VR (voltage regulator). The current platform and processor architecture use this power supply method. While this method improves battery life, when the power consumption of the power-consuming module exceeds a certain value (e.g., CPU power consumption greater than 25W), the 3-level buck converter is overloaded by the high current and high power consumption, increasing costs. Therefore, this power supply method is only suitable for ARM low-power CPU platforms and not for traditional Intel and AMD CPU platforms with power consumption greater than 25W.

[0034] Unlike the power supply methods mentioned above, combined with Figure 4 This application determines the appropriate power supply mode for powering the power module based on its load status. In the first power supply mode, the input voltage is continuously stepped down and converted to obtain the second voltage using a series voltage converter (first voltage converter and second voltage converter). In the second power supply mode, which includes the first power supply mode, the input voltage is converted to obtain the third voltage using a third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter. This satisfies the requirement of using different power supply modes under different load conditions of the power module, thereby improving efficiency under light loads and reducing the pressure on the voltage converter under heavy loads, thus lowering costs.

[0035] Combination Figure 5 This application proposes a power supply method, which may include the following steps: S1, obtain the load status of the power module.

[0036] For example, the load state of a power module may change with the operating mode of the power module or the operating mode of the electronic device. For instance, taking a CPU as an example, when the electronic device is in standby mode, the CPU load is very small; while when the electronic device is in operating mode, the CPU load increases. As another example, when the CPU is mainly used to process basic office documents, the CPU load is small, while when the CPU is used to process large gaming applications, the CPU load is relatively large. Of course, the power module can be other power structures, and the load state of the power module may be affected by other factors. This is merely an example and does not constitute protection within the scope of the claims.

[0037] In order to improve the efficiency of power supply to the power module and reduce energy consumption in the different modes mentioned above, the load status of the power module can be obtained before determining which power supply mode to use, so as to accurately determine the power supply mode that is suitable for the load status of the power module.

[0038] S2, if the load state is the first state, power is supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode; the first power supply mode includes converting the input voltage into a first voltage based on a first voltage converter, and converting the first voltage into a second voltage based on a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter.

[0039] For example, if the load state of the power module is in the first state, then power can be supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode. Here, the first state of the load state of the power module can be a light load state. For example, when an electronic device is first turned on, the CPU resource utilization is still very low, indicating that the CPU load state is in a light load (first state).

[0040] When the power module is in its first state, the current required is relatively small, and it can be powered solely using the first power supply mode. In this mode, the input voltage is converted to a first voltage by a first voltage converter, and then converted to a second voltage by a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter. The first voltage converter can be a first-stage 3-level buck converter, which steps down the input voltage to the stable voltage required by the power module, improving power supply efficiency. It can also be used in conjunction with a third voltage converter in high-power scenarios to reduce energy consumption. The second voltage converter can be... Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the combination of PWM1 and LVDrMOS (Pulse Width Modulation; Low Voltage DrMOS: low-voltage drive-MOSFET integrated device). This enables voltage switching and current control in multi-phase power supply. The second voltage converter integrates the driver chip and MOSFET (field-effect transistor) into a single package, replacing the traditional separate driver and MOSFET design. This is more suitable for the power supply scenarios of power modules with high energy efficiency requirements in this application. The above-described configuration of the first and second voltage converters ensures power supply efficiency while reducing energy consumption.

[0041] Here, the first voltage is lower than the input voltage, and the second voltage is lower than the first voltage. After two voltage converters connected in series, the input voltage is converted to a voltage (the second voltage) that meets the requirements of the power module under light load conditions. The first voltage obtained by the first voltage converter is then output to the second voltage converter, thereby improving the power supply efficiency of the power module under light load conditions. For example, if the input voltage is 9V-20V, after conversion by the first voltage converter, a first voltage of 3.3V-5V is obtained. This first voltage is then converted by the second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter to obtain a second voltage of 0.6V-1.5V. This 0.6V-1.5V can meet the power demand of the power module under the current load condition. In this process, no other voltage converters are needed, thus improving the power efficiency of the power module under light load conditions.

[0042] It should be noted that the first voltage converter and the second voltage converter may be different.

[0043] S3, if the load state is the second state, power is supplied to the power module based on the second power supply mode; the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode, and the input voltage is converted into a third voltage based on at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter.

[0044] For example, if the load state of the power module is in the second state, then the second power supply mode can be used to power the power module. Here, the second state is different from the first state. It can be understood that the load state of the power module in the second state corresponds to a medium load state or a heavy load state. Here, a medium load state or a heavy load state means that the second voltage provided by the first power supply mode alone cannot meet the power demand of the power module in the second state. Here, a heavy load state can also mean that the power module is in a fully loaded state. Taking the CPU as an example, when the electronic device is only in working mode such as opening documents, browsing the web, or in standby mode, the CPU is in a light load state; at this time, the CPU consumes very little power. When the electronic device is in working mode such as watching videos or using large-scale graphic design software for office work, the CPU is in a medium load state; at this time, the CPU consumes moderate power. And when the electronic device is in working mode such as playing games or rendering images, the CPU is in a heavy load state; at this time, the CPU consumes a lot of power.

[0045] The second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode. When the second power supply mode is used to power the power module, the first power supply mode also starts operating and supplies power to the power module. Simultaneously, in the second power supply mode, at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter can convert the input voltage into a third voltage to power the power module, thus meeting the power requirements of the power module under medium or heavy load conditions. The third voltage converter can be... Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the combination of PWM2 and HV DrMOS (Pulse Width Modulation; High Voltage DrMOS: High Voltage Driver-Field Effect Transistor Integrated Device). This third voltage converter integrates the driver chip and MOSFET, replacing the traditional discrete design, simplifying circuit board layout, reducing device size, and adapting to the space requirements of high-voltage power supply equipment (such as all-in-one machines, high-power CPU devices, etc.). It achieves efficient high-voltage to low-voltage conversion, accepting high-voltage input from batteries / power adapters (e.g., 20V and above), and, in conjunction with a VR (voltage regulator), performs voltage reduction to provide precise and stable low-voltage power to power modules such as the CPU core. In high-load power supply scenarios for power modules, the third voltage converter has lower conduction and switching losses, helping to improve power supply efficiency and reduce energy waste. For example, the third voltage converter can directly convert a 9V-20V input voltage to a third voltage of 0.6V-1.5V (the specific magnitude of the third voltage is determined by the load state of the power module).

[0046] Thus, when the power module is under medium or heavy load, the second power supply mode, including the first power supply mode, can not only supply power to the power module through the first power supply mode, but also simultaneously convert the input voltage through the third voltage converter and supply power to the power module. Therefore, the power consumption through the first power supply mode is significantly reduced compared to... Figure 2 The power consumption of the power supply method shown is reduced.

[0047] The power supply method described in this application allows for the determination of the power supply mode based on the load status of the power-consuming module. In the second power supply mode, the aforementioned configuration of the first and second voltage converters ensures both power supply efficiency and reduces energy consumption. In the second power supply mode, which supplies power to the power-consuming module under high load, the third voltage converter exhibits lower conduction and switching losses, contributing to improved power supply efficiency and reduced energy waste. Furthermore, in the second power supply mode, the combination of the first and second voltage converters with the third voltage converter reduces energy loss during voltage conversion, making it easier for the power-consuming module to achieve its intended function. Adopting the first power supply method design improves power supply response speed, which is also an important design feature for extending the battery life of electronic devices.

[0048] In some embodiments, in step S2, if the load state is a first state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on a first power supply mode includes: If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, power is supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode.

[0049] For example, the larger the load of the power module, the higher its power demand; conversely, the smaller the load, the lower its power demand. As mentioned earlier, when the power module is under low load, the first power supply mode is sufficient to meet its power demand. The choice between the first and second power supply modes depends on the load of the power module. In this embodiment, if the load of the power module is less than a first threshold, it indicates a low power demand, and the first power supply mode can be used.

[0050] Here, the low load state or the first threshold may be different for different power consumption modules. For example, for the first power consumption module, when the load of the first power consumption module is the first load (the first load is less than the first threshold), the first power supply mode can meet the power consumption needs of the first power consumption module.

[0051] In step S3, the step of supplying power to the power module based on the second power supply mode if the load state is the second state may include: S31, if the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the number of the third voltage converters is determined based on the load demand, wherein the number of the third voltage converters is positively correlated with the magnitude of the load demand.

[0052] S32, based on the number of the third voltage converters, determine the second power supply mode, and supply power to the power module based on the second power supply mode.

[0053] For example, in conjunction with the above embodiment where "the load of the power module is less than the first threshold", when the load of the power module is not less than the first threshold, the number of third voltage converters can be determined according to the load requirements of the power module. Here, when the number of third voltage converters is greater than 1, the third voltage converters can form a parallel connection. A determined number of third voltage converters participate in the conversion of the input voltage.

[0054] The number of third voltage converters is positively correlated with the load demand of the power module. It is understandable that the greater the load demand of the power module, the higher its power consumption. Simply using the first power supply mode cannot meet the power consumption demand corresponding to the current load demand of the power module. Similarly, when the load demand of the power module is significantly greater than the first threshold, even using a third voltage converter in the second power supply mode in conjunction with the first power supply mode cannot meet the power consumption demand of the power module.

[0055] For example, if the load demand of the power module reaches twice (or more than twice but less than three times) the maximum power supply capacity corresponding to the first power supply mode, then the number of third power supply converters can be determined to be two, and the two third power supply converters are connected in parallel. As the demand of the power module increases, the number of third power supply converters will also increase, which will not be specifically illustrated here.

[0056] After determining the number of third power converters, the specific power supply method for the second power supply mode can be determined. Taking a 54W AMD CPU as an example, and assuming a single-phase load capacity (the power supply capacity of the first power supply mode and the power supply capacity of a single third voltage converter in the second power supply mode) of 15-20W, if the number of third voltage converters is three, then there are a total of 4 power phases that can power the power-consuming module. A 4-phase power supply can cover the 54W heavy load requirement and provides redundancy. If a 3-phase power supply is used, the single-phase load is close to 20W, and long-term heavy load can easily lead to MOSFET overheating and overload. Using 5 phases or more will increase costs.

[0057] In some embodiments, step S31, determining the number of the third voltage converters based on load demand, may include: S311, Determine the current parameters of the power module based on the load requirements.

[0058] S312, based on the current parameters of the power module and the rated carrying capacity of the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, determine the number of the third voltage converter.

[0059] For example, the required current parameters of the power module can be determined first based on the load demand of the power module. For instance, the current magnitude of the power module can be determined. The smaller the load demand of the power module, the smaller the current required. Taking the CPU as an example, regardless of whether it is the first power supply mode or the second power supply mode, the output current of the voltage converter is supplied to the power module on demand. As the load of the power module increases, the required current increases, and the two change synchronously.

[0060] The number of third voltage converters can be determined based on the current parameters of the power module and the rated load capacity of the second and third voltage converters.

[0061] For example, if the rated load capacity of the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter is close to 12A, and the current consumption of the power module is between 12A and 24A, the number of third voltage converters is 1; if the current consumption of the power module is between 24A and 36A, the number of third voltage converters is 2, and so on.

[0062] For example, when the power module is under light load (office work / document writing), the CPU's computational load is low, and the required current is 8A. In this case, only the first power supply mode can be used. The second voltage obtained from the first power supply mode corresponds to the CPU's current consumption (8A), and the first power supply mode outputs 8A current to supply the CPU. When the power module is under medium load, the CPU's computational load increases, and the required current is 18A. In this case, the second power supply mode can be used, outputting a combined 18A current to meet the CPU's load requirements. When the power module is under heavy load (large-scale gaming / video rendering), the CPU's computational load is at its maximum, and the required current is 28A. In this case, the second power supply mode can use two third voltage converters, outputting 28A current to match the power module's heavy load requirements.

[0063] In some embodiments, obtaining the load status of the power module includes at least one of the following: The first method involves obtaining the voltage and / or current parameters of the power module, and determining the load state of the power module based on the voltage and / or current parameters.

[0064] For example, a digital IC (such as MP29011) can detect that the CPU (power module) has an input current of 8A and the CPU core voltage is stable at around 1V. In this case, the power consumption of the power module is 8W. Since 8W is much lower than the CPU's rated power consumption of 54W, the current load state of the power module can be determined to be light load.

[0065] The second method involves receiving a load indication signal from the power module and determining the load status of the power module based on the load indication signal.

[0066] For example, continuing with the CPU as the power module, the CPU actively sends load indication signals (essentially digital / level signals) to the power supply control unit (such as the digital IC: MP29011) under different load conditions. This signal requires no additional calculation; it only needs to be received and parsed to directly determine the load state. The signal type corresponds one-to-one with the load state. For instance, when the CPU is under light load (8W power consumption), it sends a low-level signal to the digital IC (implementation convention: low level indicates light load, high level indicates non-light load). The digital IC receives the low-level indication signal from the CPU through the signal line. The digital IC has a preset signal rule: low level corresponds to "CPU load ≤ 15W" (light load threshold). No additional voltage / current monitoring is needed; only the level state needs to be parsed. Based on the parsing result, it directly determines that the CPU is currently under light load.

[0067] The third method involves obtaining the system resource occupancy rate of the power module and determining the load status of the power module based on the system resource occupancy rate.

[0068] For example, continuing to use the power module as the CPU, CPU utilization (system resource occupancy) directly reflects the CPU's computational load; the higher the utilization, the greater the load. For instance, a CPU utilization of 10% corresponds to a light load, while a CPU utilization of 80% corresponds to a heavy load. CPU utilization can be obtained by monitoring the CPU's core parameters, including CPU utilization, using tools built into the electronic device or specialized software.

[0069] In some embodiments, the method further includes: Based on the current parameters of the power module, the number of the second voltage converter and the number of the third voltage converter, the phase current of the second voltage converter and each of the third voltage converters is allocated.

[0070] For example, in a multiphase power supply, each phase shares current rather than voltage. All phases can have the same output voltage (e.g., all 0.8V~1.2V required by the power module), with voltage regulation uniformly handled by a voltage converter (VR). Current is distributed only according to the load ratio. For instance, taking a CPU as the power module, if the CPU is under a 54W heavy load, each of the four phases shares approximately 13.5W of current; if the CPU is under a 25W medium load, each of the two phases shares approximately 12.5W of current. The second and third voltage converters bear the corresponding current according to the load ratio, avoiding single-phase load imbalance and ensuring stable power supply and optimized energy efficiency.

[0071] In some embodiments, the method further includes: Control signals are sent to the second voltage converter, or to both the second and third voltage converters, respectively. The control signals include a start signal and an operating parameter signal.

[0072] For example, after determining the power supply mode for the power-consuming module and the number of third voltage converters in the second power supply mode (i.e., determining the phase (PH) involved in the power supply operation of the power-consuming module), the overall power supply process for the power-consuming module can be implemented according to the logical flow of digital IC control signals, phase execution actions, VR voltage regulation, and stable supply to the power-consuming module. The control signals can be sent by a digital IC (such as MP29011) and transmitted through hardware lines, and the entire process can be executed automatically without manual intervention.

[0073] Taking a 54W AMD CPU with a 4-phase power supply (PH1~PH4) as an example, assuming that the digital IC has determined that one phase (such as PH1 and PH2) needs to work, then the first power supply mode can be used. The digital IC can send start and operation parameter control signals to the second voltage converter (corresponding to PH1), and can also send sleep control signals to each of the third voltage converters (corresponding to PH2, PH3, and PH4) to clearly inform them of the working status and parameters of each phase.

[0074] Assuming the digital IC has determined that two phases (e.g., PH1 and PH2) are currently required to operate, and the second power supply mode is used to supply power to the power module, the digital IC can send start and operation parameter control signals to the second voltage converter (corresponding to PH1) and one of the third voltage converters (corresponding to PH2) respectively. It can also send sleep control signals to the remaining third voltage converters (corresponding to PH3 and PH4) at the same time, clearly informing them of the operating status and parameters of each phase.

[0075] The second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, operate according to the operating parameter signal.

[0076] For example, each phase executes the control commands of the aforementioned control signals. In the first power supply mode, the second voltage converter operates according to the operating parameter signals. In the second power supply mode, both the second and third voltage converters operate according to the operating parameter signals. Referring to the embodiment of the second power supply mode in the previous step, PH1 and PH2 start up after receiving the control signals and begin operating according to the operating parameters set by the control signals (such as conduction frequency and current distribution ratio); PH3 and PH4 remain in a closed state after receiving the "sleep" signal, consuming no energy and reducing energy consumption.

[0077] The output current of the second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, is summarized and filtered to obtain the power consumption current.

[0078] For example, this step involves VR voltage aggregation and regulation. After the second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, execute the control command of the above control signal, and in conjunction with the embodiment of the second power supply mode in the previous step, PH1 and PH2 send the pre-regulated current (both are the voltage levels required by the power module, 0.8V-1.2V) to VR. VR aggregates and filters the two currents to further stabilize the voltage, suppress ripple, and ensure that the output current is stable and accurate.

[0079] The electrical current is transmitted to the power module.

[0080] For example, the VR can process the stable current and deliver it to the power-consuming module (e.g., CPU core) through the power supply line to meet the power demand of the current load (e.g., medium load, 25W). At the same time, the digital IC can monitor the load changes of the power-consuming module in real time and dynamically adjust the control signals to ensure that the power supply mode and the number of third voltage converters in the power supply mode match the current load of the power-consuming module, thus ensuring power supply efficiency while reducing energy consumption.

[0081] This application also provides a power supply system, combined with Figure 6 and Figure 7 The power supply system is used to supply power to the power-consuming modules.

[0082] The power supply system includes a battery or power adapter, a first power supply path, and a second power supply path. The first and second power supply paths are connected to the battery or power adapter, respectively, and are connected in parallel. A switch is provided between the battery or power adapter and the first power supply path. The switch can be, but is not limited to, a switched capacitor. The switched capacitor can work with the 3-level buck converter (described below) to perform voltage reduction preprocessing, achieving rapid voltage switching and stabilization through capacitor charging and discharging, reducing ripple interference during the voltage reduction process, and ensuring the accuracy of the low-voltage output. Secondly, it assists VR in secondary voltage regulation, balancing current fluctuations through energy storage buffers, reducing energy loss during voltage conversion, and further improving power supply efficiency. Thirdly, it eliminates the need for large inductors, reducing the size of the power module and adapting to space-constrained scenarios such as thin and light laptops and embedded devices.

[0083] A battery or power adapter, which provides the input voltage, for example Figure 6 The input voltage provided by the battery or power adapter is 9V-20V.

[0084] The first power supply path includes a first voltage converter and a second voltage converter.

[0085] A first voltage converter, connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage to a first voltage. The first voltage converter may, but is not limited to, a 3-level buck converter. The first voltage converter converts the input voltage to the first voltage, such as... Figure 6 The initial voltage can be 3.3V-5V. An inductor can be placed on the first power supply path to work with DrMOS (Driver-Field-Effect Transistor Integrated Device) to achieve current regulation.

[0086] Combination Figure 7 The first voltage converter utilizes the DrMOS integrated device PH1 and a 4:1 (X:1) direct drive buck converter to further maximize light-load efficiency. The first voltage converter can employ a first-stage 3-level buck converter, which steps down the input voltage to the stable voltage required by the power module, improving power supply efficiency. Simultaneously, it can be used in conjunction with the third voltage converter in high-power scenarios of the power module to reduce energy consumption.

[0087] A second voltage converter, connected in series with the first voltage converter, is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. The second voltage converter may be different from the first voltage converter. The second voltage converter may employ... Figure 7 The PWM1 shown is combined with an LV DrMOS (Pulse Width Modulation; Low Voltage DrMOS: low voltage drive-MOSFET integrated device). The second voltage converter is connected in series with the first voltage converter. For example, the second voltage converter can be connected to the output of the first voltage converter. The second voltage converter can convert the first voltage into a second voltage, such as... Figure 6 The second voltage can be 0.6V-1.5V, and the specific value is determined by the load of the power module.

[0088] The second voltage converter can provide the obtained second voltage to the power module to supply power to the power module.

[0089] Depending on the load status of the power module, the first power supply path can supply power to the power module independently.

[0090] The second power supply path is connected in parallel with the first power supply path. Depending on the load status of the power module, the second power supply path and the first power supply path simultaneously provide power to the power module.

[0091] The second power supply path includes at least one third voltage converter for converting the input voltage to a third voltage. The third voltage converter can be connected to a battery / power adapter, accepts the input voltage provided by the battery / power adapter, and converts the input voltage to a third voltage, which is lower than the input voltage. Figure 6 The third voltage can be 0.6V-1.5V, and the specific value is determined by the load of the power module.

[0092] That is, under different load conditions of the power-consuming module, the power system can supply power to the power-consuming module using the first power supply path, or it can use both the first and second power supply paths together. Using only the first power supply path can improve the power supply efficiency and reduce energy consumption while meeting the power demand of the power-consuming module. Using both the first and second power supply paths together can meet the high power demand of the power-consuming module.

[0093] Similarly, an inductor can also be set on the second power supply path, which also works with DrMOS to achieve current regulation.

[0094] In some embodiments, the power supply system has a first power supply mode and a second power supply mode, wherein the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode.

[0095] If the load state of the power module is in the first state, the power supply system uses the first power supply mode to supply power to the power module, thereby providing the second voltage to the power module. Here, the first power supply mode corresponds to the first power supply path; supplying power to the power module using the first power supply mode means supplying power to the power module using the first power supply path.

[0096] If the load state of the power module is in the first state, then power can be supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode. Here, the first state of the load state of the power module can be a light load state. For example, when an electronic device is first turned on, the CPU resource utilization is still very low, indicating that the CPU load state is in a light load (first state).

[0097] When the power module is in its first state, the required current is relatively small, and it can be powered solely using the first power supply mode. In this mode, the input voltage is converted to a first voltage by a first voltage converter in the first power supply path. This first voltage is then converted to a second voltage by a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter. Here, the first voltage is lower than the input voltage, and the second voltage is lower than the first voltage. Through these two voltage conversions, the input voltage is transformed to a voltage (the second voltage) sufficient for the power module under light load conditions. The first voltage obtained from the first voltage converter is then output to the second voltage converter, thereby improving the power supply efficiency of the power module under light load conditions. For example, an input voltage of 9V-20V is converted to a first voltage of 3.3V-5V by the first voltage converter. This first voltage is then converted to a second voltage of 0.6V-1.5V by the second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter. This 0.6V-1.5V meets the power requirements of the power module under its current load condition. This process does not require the use of other voltage converters, thus improving the power efficiency of the power module under light load conditions.

[0098] If the load state of the power module is the second state, the power supply system uses the second power supply mode to supply power to the power module, providing the second voltage and the third voltage to the power module. Here, the second power supply mode corresponds to the first power supply path and the second power supply path. Using the second power supply mode to supply power to the power module means using both the first power supply path and the second power supply path to supply power to the power module.

[0099] If the load state of the power module is in the second state, then the second power supply mode can be used to power the power module, that is, the first power supply path and the second power supply path are used together to power the power module. Here, the second state is different from the first state. It can be understood that the load state of the power module in the second state corresponds to a medium load state or a heavy load state. Here, a medium load state or a heavy load state means that the second voltage provided by the first power supply mode alone cannot meet the power demand of the power module in the second state. Here, a heavy load state can also mean that the power module is in a fully loaded state. Taking the CPU as an example, when the electronic device is only in working mode such as opening documents, browsing the web, or in standby mode, the CPU is in a light load state; at this time, the CPU consumes very little power. When the electronic device is in working mode such as watching videos or using large-scale graphic design software for office work, the CPU is in a medium load state; at this time, the CPU consumes moderate power. When the electronic device is in working mode such as playing games or rendering images, the CPU is in a heavy load state; at this time, the CPU consumes a lot of power.

[0100] The second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode. When the second power supply mode is used to power the power module, the first power supply mode also starts operating and supplies power to the power module. Simultaneously, in the second power supply mode, at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter can convert the input voltage into a third voltage to power the power module, meeting the power requirements of the power module under medium or heavy load conditions. For example, the third voltage converter can directly convert a 9V-20V input voltage into a 0.6V-1.5V third voltage (the specific magnitude of the third voltage is determined by the load state of the power module).

[0101] Thus, when the power module is under medium or heavy load, the second power supply mode, including the first power supply mode, can not only supply power to the power module through the first power supply mode, but also simultaneously convert the input voltage through the third voltage converter and supply power to the power module. Therefore, the power consumption through the first power supply mode is significantly reduced compared to... Figure 2 The power consumption of the power supply method shown is reduced.

[0102] In some embodiments, the power supply system further includes a control module disposed on the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the control module determining the number of the third voltage converter based on the load demand of the power consumption module and sending a control signal.

[0103] The control module can employ a digital IC. The load demand of the power module can be actively sent to the digital IC, and the digital IC can also actively acquire the load demand of the power module. Based on the load demand of the power module, the digital IC can determine the number of third voltage converters and send corresponding control signals to each voltage converter in the first and second power supply paths. For example, the digital IC monitors the VR output current (i.e., the load of the power module) in real time, compares it with a preset threshold, and automatically starts / sleeps the corresponding phase. For instance, if the load of the power module increases and the VR output current reaches 25A, the digital IC detects that the current exceeds 24A but does not reach 36A, determining that the number of third voltage converters is two. It sends control signals to the first and second power supply paths, automatically starting the first and second power supply paths, with PH1~PH3 starting and PH4 remaining in sleep mode. If the load continues to increase, reaching 37A, the number of third voltage converters is determined to be 3, and PH1~PH4 are started.

[0104] If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, the first control module on the first power supply path sends a control signal to the second voltage converter.

[0105] Continuing with the above embodiments, if the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, the power module may be in a low-load state, and the first power supply path can be used to supply power to the power module. At this time, the first control module on the first power supply path can send a control signal to the second voltage converter, the second voltage converter starts and works, and obtains the second voltage to supply power to the power module.

[0106] If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the second control module on the second power supply path sends a control signal to the third voltage converter. The control signal includes a start signal and operating parameter signals.

[0107] If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the power module may be under medium or high load, or it may be under low load, but the first power supply path cannot meet the load requirements of the power module. In this case, the first and second power supply paths can be used together to supply power to the power module. The first control module on the first power supply path can send a control signal to the second voltage converter, which starts and operates according to the working instructions corresponding to the working parameter signals to obtain a second voltage to supply power to the power module. The second control module on the second power supply path sends a control signal to the third voltage converter, which starts and operates according to the working instructions corresponding to the working parameter signals to obtain a third voltage, thus realizing that the first and second power supply paths jointly supply power to the power module.

[0108] This application also provides an electronic device, which includes a power supply system and a power consumption module, wherein the power supply system is used to supply power to the power consumption module.

[0109] The power supply system includes: A battery or power adapter, which is used to provide input voltage.

[0110] The first power supply path includes: A first voltage converter, which is connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage into a first voltage.

[0111] The second voltage converter, which is connected in series with the first voltage converter, is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage.

[0112] A second power supply path, which is connected in parallel with the first power supply path, includes: At least one third voltage converter is used to convert the input voltage into a third voltage.

[0113] The specific structure of the power supply system is as described above and will not be repeated here.

[0114] The foregoing has described in detail several embodiments of this application, but this application is not limited to these specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various variations and modifications based on the concept of this application, and all such variations and modifications should fall within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

Claims

1. A power supply method, comprising: Obtain the load status of the power module; If the load state is the first state, power is supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode; The first power supply mode includes converting the input voltage into a first voltage based on a first voltage converter, and converting the first voltage into a second voltage based on a second voltage converter connected in series with the first voltage converter; If the load state is the second state, power is supplied to the power module based on the second power supply mode; the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode, and the input voltage is converted into a third voltage based on at least one third voltage converter connected in parallel with the first voltage converter.

2. The power supply method according to claim 1, wherein if the load state is a first state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on a first power supply mode includes: If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, power is supplied to the power module based on the first power supply mode; If the load state is in the second state, supplying power to the power-consuming module based on the second power supply mode includes: If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the number of the third voltage converters is determined based on the load demand, wherein the number of the third voltage converters is positively correlated with the magnitude of the load demand; Based on the number of the third voltage converters, the second power supply mode is determined, and power is supplied to the power module based on the second power supply mode.

3. The power supply method according to claim 2, wherein determining the number of the third voltage converters based on load demand includes: The current parameters of the power module are determined based on the load requirements; The number of the third voltage converters is determined based on the current parameters of the power module and the rated load capacity of the second and third voltage converters.

4. The power supply method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining the load status of the power-consuming module includes at least one of the following: Obtain the voltage and / or current parameters of the power module, and determine the load status of the power module based on the voltage and / or current parameters; Receive the load indication signal sent by the power consumption module, and determine the load status of the power consumption module based on the load indication signal; Obtain the system resource utilization rate of the power consumption module, and determine the load status of the power consumption module based on the system resource utilization rate.

5. The power supply method according to claim 3, further comprising: Based on the current parameters of the power module, the number of the second voltage converter and the number of the third voltage converter, the phase current of the second voltage converter and each of the third voltage converters is allocated.

6. The power supply method according to claim 1, further comprising: Send control signals to the second voltage converter, or to both the second and third voltage converters respectively, the control signals including start signals and operating parameter signals; The second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, operate according to the operating parameter signal; The output current of the second voltage converter, or the second voltage converter and the third voltage converter, is summarized and filtered to obtain the power consumption current; The electrical current is transmitted to the power module.

7. A power supply system for supplying power to a power-consuming module; The power supply system includes: A battery or power adapter, which provides the input voltage; The first power supply path includes: A first voltage converter, connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage into a first voltage; The second voltage converter is connected in series with the first voltage converter and is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. A second power supply path, which is connected in parallel with the first power supply path, includes: At least one third voltage converter is used to convert the input voltage into a third voltage.

8. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the power supply system has a first power supply mode and a second power supply mode, and the second power supply mode includes the first power supply mode; If the load state of the power module is the first state, the power supply system uses the first power supply mode to supply power to the power module, in order to provide the second voltage to the power module; If the load state of the power module is the second state, the power supply system uses the second power supply mode to supply power to the power module, which is used to provide the second voltage and the third voltage to the power module.

9. The power supply system according to claim 8, further comprising a control module disposed on the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the control module determining the number of the third voltage converter based on the load demand of the power consumption module and sending a control signal; If the load of the power module is less than the first threshold, the first control module on the first power supply path sends a control signal to the second voltage converter; If the load of the power module is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the second control module on the second power supply path sends a control signal to the third voltage converter; The control signals include start signals and operating parameter signals.

10. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising a power supply system for supplying power to a power-consuming module; The power supply system includes: A battery or power adapter, which provides the input voltage; The first power supply path includes: A first voltage converter, connected to the battery or power adapter, is used to convert the input voltage into a first voltage; The second voltage converter, which is connected in series with the first voltage converter, is used to convert the first voltage into a second voltage; A second power supply path, which is connected in parallel with the first power supply path, includes: At least one third voltage converter is used to convert the input voltage into a third voltage.

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