Adaptive Voltage Positioning Power Supply Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage regulator modules face challenges in maintaining accurate voltage regulation at low supply voltages and high transient currents, often requiring numerous capacitors that increase size and cost, and struggle with modifying output impedance online, leading to potential failures and instability.
Innovation Solution
A power supply circuit with time-varying output voltage and current references generated by digital controllers, allowing for adaptive voltage positioning that maintains a fixed output impedance by adjusting voltage and current references in real-time, reducing the need for extensive capacitors and enabling precise control without complex feedback loop designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional voltage regulator circuits use many bank capacitors to meet transient requirements, then transient current supply capability is improved, but circuit size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameters from fixed voltage reference to time-varying voltage and current references. The controller dynamically adjusts the voltage reference based on load conditions, enabling the power supply to deliver high transient currents without requiring multiple large capacitors. This parameter transformation allows the system to meet transient requirements through intelligent control rather than hardware multiplication.
2Productivity
If conventional voltage regulator circuits use many bank capacitors, then transient energy storage is improved, but reliability decreases due to more failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transient energy storage function from passive capacitor banks and relocates it to the active control system. The time-varying reference control generates the necessary voltage and current profiles to supply transient energy on-demand, eliminating the need for large capacitor banks and thereby reducing the number of potential failure points while maintaining transient performance.
3Device complexity
If conventional AVP uses fixed reference voltage, then output impedance control is simplified, but adaptability to varying load conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed voltage reference into a dynamic time-varying voltage reference that automatically adapts to changing load conditions. The controller continuously adjusts the reference voltage based on the relationship between output voltage and current, maintaining optimal output impedance across varying operating conditions without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple fixed references.
4Device complexity
If conventional methods use voltage-mode control to achieve constant output impedance, then implementation is simplified, but measurement precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors the output voltage and compares it with the time-varying reference voltage. Based on the voltage error and measured current, the controller dynamically adjusts the power converter operation to maintain precise output impedance. This closed-loop feedback ensures high measurement precision and control accuracy while keeping the implementation relatively simple through standard control techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply circuit includes one or more reference voltage generators that respectively generate a time-varying output voltage reference value as well as a corresponding time-varying output current reference value. During operation, the reference voltage generators produce different step values for the time-varying output voltage reference value and the corresponding time-varying output current reference value over time such that the power supply has a substantially fixed output impedance value. According to one configuration, the time-varying output voltage reference value tracks the power supply output voltage. Via a comparison of the power supply output voltage with respect to the adaptive output voltage reference voltage value and a comparison of the output current to the corresponding time-varying output current reference value, a controller circuit associated with the power supply controls switching operation of the power supply to regulate the power supply output voltage.