Amplifier Supply Voltage Modulation for Lower Power Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In haptic applications, a single power supply is used for multiple amplifiers with varying output voltages, leading to excessive power dissipation due to a common high voltage rail, which reduces battery runtime without increasing design complexity or circuit board space.
Innovation Solution
A circuit that modulates the power supply voltage by using a peak detection circuit, summing circuit, and scaling circuit to track the maximum instantaneous analog or digital input/output voltages and an amplifier headroom voltage, generating a reference voltage to adjust the power supply voltage and reduce power dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a common high voltage rail is used to supply power to multiple amplifiers with varying output voltages, then all amplifiers can operate without saturation, but power dissipation increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply system by providing individual voltage rails for each amplifier instead of a common high voltage rail. Each voltage rail is dynamically adjusted according to the specific output voltage requirements of its corresponding amplifier, eliminating unnecessary power dissipation in amplifiers that require lower voltages while maintaining sufficient voltage for amplifiers that need higher voltages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment where each amplifier's supply voltage is continuously monitored and adjusted based on its instantaneous output voltage requirements. The system transitions from a static common voltage rail to dynamic individual voltage rails that adapt in real-time, reducing power dissipation when lower voltages suffice while ensuring reliability when higher voltages are needed.
2Loss of energy
If separate voltage supplies are provided for each amplifier to reduce power dissipation, then power efficiency improves, but design complexity and circuit board space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage regulation functions into a centralized control system that manages multiple amplifier voltage rails. Instead of each amplifier having an independent complex voltage supply, a single control system coordinates voltage distribution across all amplifiers, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining the power efficiency benefits of individual voltage rails.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal voltage management system that serves multiple amplifiers with varying requirements. This multi-functional system can dynamically adjust voltage levels for different amplifiers based on their instantaneous needs, eliminating the need for separate dedicated voltage supplies for each amplifier while still achieving reduced power dissipation.
3Reliability
If a common high voltage rail is used to ensure sufficient headroom for all amplifiers, then amplifier performance is maintained, but battery runtime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically for each amplifier based on its instantaneous output requirements. Instead of maintaining a constantly high voltage rail, the system adjusts voltage levels in real-time to match actual amplifier needs, significantly reducing average power consumption and extending battery runtime while maintaining amplifier performance when high voltage is actually required.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit to modulate the power supply to track input or output voltages provided to or output by a plurality of amplifiers to reduce power dissipation is provided. The circuit may include a peak detection circuit configured to receive a plurality of voltages respectively corresponding to the plurality of amplifiers, and to detect and output information regarding a maximum instantaneous voltage from the received plurality of voltages, and a summing circuit configured to output a sum of the information regarding the maximum instantaneous voltage and an amplifier headroom voltage. A reference voltage may be provided for the supply voltage responsive to the output sum. The circuit may also include a scaling circuit configured to scale the output sum, and the reference voltage may be a scaled reference voltage output by the scaling circuit.