Adaptive Voltage Regulator Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voltage regulators generate noise during voltage transitions, which can limit the performance of sensitive analog circuits and increase space and cost when analog filtering is employed, particularly in integrated power delivery systems.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive digital control loop that monitors the output voltage to determine if it is in a steady or transition state, adjusting the gain of proportional and derivative control circuits to minimize noise and improve response, with programmable timing and amplitude adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If additional analog filtering is employed to reduce noise on the output voltage, then the noise level is reduced, but the space consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise level on output voltageVSAvoidspace consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/analog filtering approach with a digital control system. The voltage regulator uses a digital controller that monitors output voltage and dynamically adjusts control parameters to reduce noise, eliminating the need for additional analog filter components and their associated space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameters of the voltage regulator dynamically based on operating conditions. By adjusting parameters such as PWM duty cycle and control loop gain in response to detected voltage transitions, the system reduces noise without requiring additional physical filtering components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional analog filtering is employed to reduce noise on the output voltage, then the noise level is reduced, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise level on output voltageVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive analog filter hardware with a digitally implemented noise reduction strategy. The digital controller uses software-based algorithms to monitor and reduce noise, eliminating the need for additional analog filter components and their associated costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage regulator system performs its own noise reduction function through integrated digital monitoring and control. The system automatically detects noise conditions and adjusts its operation accordingly, eliminating the need for separate analog filter components and reducing overall system cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If the output voltage is changed during transition periods, then the response to voltage changes is improved, but noise is generated on the output voltage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to voltage transitionsVSAvoidnoise on output voltage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control where the controller continuously monitors output voltage and adjusts control parameters in real-time based on the detected state (steady-state vs. transition). This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both response speed and noise reduction depending on operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage regulator uses feedback control where the digital controller monitors the output voltage and uses this information to adjust the control signal. By detecting voltage transitions through feedback and responding with appropriate parameter adjustments, the system achieves fast response while managing noise through intelligent control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9509214B2Voltage regulator with adaptive control

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 APPLE INC

AI summary

Generally, this disclosure describes an apparatus, systems and methods for adaptively controlling a voltage regulator. The apparatus may include a differencing circuit configured to generate an error signal based on a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage of the voltage regulator; a proportional control circuit coupled to the differencing circuit, the proportional control circuit configured to generate a control signal proportional to the error signal; a derivative control circuit coupled to the differencing circuit, the derivative control circuit configured to generate a control signal based on the derivative of the error signal; a summer circuit coupled to the proportional control circuit and the derivative control circuit, the summer circuit configured to sum the proportional control signal and the derivative control signal; a PWM signal generator circuit coupled to the summer circuit, the PWM generator circuit configured to adjust the PWM modulation based on the summed control signal; and a state monitor circuit configured to monitor the state of the output voltage and perform a gain adjustment on the proportional control signal and the derivative control signal based on the monitored state.