Analog Load Line Circuit for Fast Nonlinear Voltage Droop

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voltage regulators with constant slope load lines face challenges in efficiently responding to changing load conditions, particularly in high-performance computing and automotive electronic systems, as they require more complex load line profiles to manage power delivery and protection without increasing processing complexity or reducing response speed.

Innovation Solution

A voltage regulator with a load line circuit that uses multiple amplifiers and limiters to generate a load-line voltage based on sensed output current, allowing for complex load line profiles without digital processing, thereby enabling faster and more efficient power delivery while maintaining protection against over/under voltage and temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If digital processing approaches are used to produce complicated load line profiles, then the load line can match complex profiles, but the processing complexity increases and response speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload line profile complexityVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load line circuit is divided into multiple parallel slope circuits, each generating a specific slope component. These segmented functional blocks work together to synthesize the complete complex load line profile, allowing independent optimization of each segment while maintaining overall system simplicity and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces digital processing systems with an analog circuit-based mechanical system. The load line is generated through pure analog circuitry using operational amplifiers, limiters, and summing circuits, eliminating the need for digital processors and achieving faster response times while maintaining profile complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If digital processing approaches are used to produce complicated load line profiles, then the load line can match complex profiles, but the response speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload line profile complexityVSAvoidresponse speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces digital processing systems with an analog circuit-based mechanical system. The load line is generated through pure analog circuitry using operational amplifiers, limiters, and summing circuits, eliminating the need for digital processors and achieving faster response times while maintaining profile complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The analog circuit provides continuous real-time generation of the load line profile without discrete processing steps. The parallel slope circuits continuously sum their outputs to form the complete load line, ensuring uninterrupted and instantaneous response to load changes without digital processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple amplifiers and limiters are used to generate complex load line profiles, then the load line profile complexity increases, but the circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload line profile complexityVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load line circuit is divided into multiple parallel slope circuits, each generating a specific slope component. These segmented functional blocks work together to synthesize the complete complex load line profile, allowing independent optimization of each segment while maintaining overall system simplicity and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The summing circuit serves multiple functions by simultaneously combining outputs from different slope circuits and producing the final load line voltage. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining profile complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for the delivery of high power to processors while maintaining safe thermal ranges and providing protection, achieving complex load line profiles without the need for digital processing, thus enhancing response speed and reducing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

The load line circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers that are each configured to amplify the sensed voltage with a gain to form different slopes of the load line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical amplification:

Implementation Method 2

The load line circuit also includes a plurality of limiters. Each limiter is configured to clamp signals in the load line circuit to form inflection points at the boundaries of portions of the load line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage clamping:

Implementation Method 3

When the load-line voltage is added to an error signal of the voltage regulator an output voltage of the voltage regulator is caused to follow a load line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage summation:

Data Source

PatentUS10935999B2Load line circuit for voltage regulators

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC

AI summary

A voltage regulator with a load line circuit is disclosed. The load line circuit is configured to receive a sensed voltage corresponding to an output current of the voltage regulator. The load line circuit is further configured to generate a complex (e.g., nonlinear) load line voltage that is combined with the output voltage of the voltage regulator and compared with a set voltage of the voltage regulator to produce an error signal. The error signal is used as feedback for the voltage regulator so that the output voltage of the voltage regulator can droop by a particular amount corresponding to a particular output current of the voltage regulator. The disclosed analog approach requires neither clock signals nor digital circuitry and utilizes a parallel topology that allows the disclosed approach to be fast and energy efficient.