Capacitive Bias Voltage Storage for Standby Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in standby mode, which affects the autonomy of portable devices, and current solutions either compromise performance or require significant area increases.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves storing bias voltages in capacitive elements and using switching elements to alternately charge and discharge these capacitors, reducing power consumption by only absorbing energy during active periods and maintaining voltage through capacitors during standby.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the electronic device is completely disabled in standby condition to reduce power consumption, then static power consumption is dramatically reduced, but the performance is compromised and switching time to operating condition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing block is activated in advance during active periods to pre-charge the capacitive elements with the necessary bias voltages. This preliminary charging action ensures that when the device transitions to standby and then back to active mode, the capacitive elements already contain the required voltages, enabling immediate operation without waiting for voltage stabilization. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the system beforehand to avoid both continuous power consumption and delayed switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing block operates periodically rather than continuously - it is activated during active periods to recharge the capacitive elements and deactivated during standby periods. This periodic operation pattern allows the device to consume power only when necessary (during active periods for recharging capacitors) and not during standby periods, while still maintaining the capability for rapid transition back to active mode since the capacitors retain their charge during standby.
2Loss of energy
If complex systems are implemented to manage bias voltage supply efficiently, then power consumption is reduced, but the area occupied by the electronic device increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates the power-intensive bias voltage generation function into a dedicated biasing block that operates independently and periodically. By separating this function from the main device architecture and making it optional (activated only during active periods), the main device can be designed with minimal area while still achieving efficient power management. The capacitive elements store the bias voltages locally, eliminating the need for continuous complex voltage management systems throughout the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of the biasing system from continuous operation to periodic operation. By controlling the biasing block to operate only during active periods and remain dormant during standby periods, the system achieves significant power reduction without requiring complex continuous management systems. This parameter change allows simple capacitive storage elements to replace complex continuous voltage regulation systems, reducing area while maintaining power efficiency.
3Reliability
If the electronic device remains in standby condition for long durations, then availability is maintained, but energy from batteries is unnecessarily dissipated reducing autonomy
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing block is activated periodically during active periods to recharge the capacitive elements and deactivated during standby periods to eliminate power consumption. This periodic operation allows the device to maintain availability during standby (since the capacitors retain their charge) while completely eliminating battery energy dissipation during those periods. The device can remain in standby indefinitely without consuming battery power, yet still transition rapidly back to active mode when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive elements serve themselves by retaining their stored bias voltages during standby periods without requiring external power supply or management. The capacitors naturally hold their charge, providing self-maintenance of the bias voltages needed for rapid activation. This self-service capability during standby eliminates the need for continuous power supply or complex voltage management systems, allowing the device to maintain availability without consuming battery energy.
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
This approach significantly reduces power consumption by limiting energy absorption to active periods, thereby extending battery life without compromising performance or increasing device size.
Implementation Method 1
For each bias voltage, the holding block includes a capacitive element (for storing the bias voltage)
Implementation Method 2
the switching element is switchable between an accumulation condition (wherein it provides the bias voltage from the biasing block to the capacitive element)
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including a set of functional block, and a biasing block for generating a set of bias voltages for the functional blocks. The electronic device further includes a holding block coupled between the biasing block and the functional blocks for providing each bias voltage to at least one corresponding functional block, for each bias voltage the holding block including a capacitive element for storing the bias voltage, and a switch element switchable between an accumulation condition wherein provides the bias voltage from the biasing block to the capacitive element and to the at least one corresponding functional block, and a release condition wherein isolates the capacitive element from the biasing block and provides the bias voltage from the capacitive element to the at least one corresponding functional block, and a control block for alternately switching the switching elements between the accumulation condition and the release condition.