Bi-Directional Converter Release Voltage Control Without Extra Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bi-directional converters require dedicated communication pins or feedback pins to adjust release voltage, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A power system design that adjusts release voltage without additional dedicated pins by using a bi-directional converter with a feedback circuit and a release voltage setting circuit, which adjusts the transition voltage threshold to control the release voltage based on the bus voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated communication pins or feedback pins are used to adjust release voltage, then the release voltage can be adjusted to meet different application requirements, but the cost of the bi-directional converter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the release voltage adjustment function with the existing feedback pin functionality. The feedback pin normally used for monitoring bus voltage is also utilized to input transition voltage threshold values that determine the release voltage. This merging eliminates the need for dedicated communication pins or separate feedback pins specifically for voltage adjustment, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback pin is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a voltage monitoring input and a configuration input for the transition voltage threshold. By making the feedback pin universal, the patent allows the same hardware resource to control different aspects of converter operation, eliminating the need for additional dedicated pins and reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the release voltage is adjusted through dedicated communication pins or feedback pin, then the release voltage can be controlled, but the device complexity increases due to extra pins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage control function into the existing feedback pin structure. The feedback pin continues to receive bus voltage signals for normal operation, and additionally receives transition voltage threshold values for controlling release voltage. This combining of functions into a single pin reduces the number of pins required while maintaining ease of operation for release voltage control.
3Ease of manufacture
If additional dedicated pins are added for release voltage adjustment, then the release voltage can be adjusted without communication protocols, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the feedback pin to directly input the transition voltage threshold value that determines release voltage, eliminating the need for external communication protocols like I2C or SPI. The converter internally processes this threshold value and automatically configures the appropriate release voltage. This self-service approach simplifies the adjustment process while avoiding the addition of dedicated communication interface pins.
Data Source
AI summary
A power system having a power input terminal adapted to receive a bus voltage and a sense terminal adapted to receive a sense voltage indicative of the bus voltage. The power system may further include a bi-directional converter having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the bi-directional converter may be coupled to the power input terminal. In an embodiment, when the sense voltage is decreased to reach or to be lower than the reference voltage, the bi-directional converter may be adapted to be configured to operate in a release mode to provide a release voltage at the first terminal. The release voltage may vary in accordance with varying in a transition voltage threshold that is a voltage value of the bus voltage at a moment when the sense voltage decreases to reach the reference voltage.