Compressed Voltage Power Supply Circuit for Low-Power Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face increased power consumption due to the integration of more circuit elements, leading to reduced battery life in portable devices and increased heat generation in non-portable environments, necessitating a reduction in power usage without compromising performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power-supply circuit that provides a compressed supply voltage during low-power modes of operation, utilizing non-linear circuits to reduce power consumption while maintaining essential functionality, and employing body biasing techniques to optimize transistor performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more circuit elements are integrated into devices, then functionality and performance are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply circuit is segmented into multiple voltage domains, with separate voltage generation paths for normal mode and low-power mode operations. This allows independent optimization of power delivery for different operational states, enabling the system to maintain full functionality when needed while reducing power consumption during low-power modes by activating only the necessary voltage generation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic voltage scaling by adjusting the supply voltage level based on operational mode. A voltage generator dynamically switches between providing normal supply voltage during active operations and reduced supply voltage during low-power modes. This dynamic adaptation allows the circuit to maintain performance when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during idle or low-activity periods, directly resolving the contradiction between functionality and power usage.
2Speed
If normal supply voltage is provided during low-power mode, then circuit performance is maintained, but power consumption reduction is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically based on operational mode. During low-power modes, the supply voltage is reduced to a lower level that still maintains basic circuit functionality but consumes significantly less power. When normal mode operations are required, the voltage is restored to full level. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the circuit to operate at reduced performance levels during low-power modes while still maintaining essential functionality, and fully restore performance when needed.
3Duration of action of moving object
If power consumption is reduced during low-power mode, then battery life is extended, but performance resumption time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage generator is designed to quickly transition from low-power voltage generation back to normal voltage generation when needed. By maintaining the voltage generation capability in a low-power state rather than completely shutting down, the system can rapidly restore full power supply when performance resumption is required. This preliminary maintenance of operational readiness minimizes the time penalty while still achieving significant power savings during low-power modes, thus resolving the contradiction between battery life extension and performance resumption time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a circuit that has a normal mode of operation and a low-power mode of operation. The circuit consumes more power in the normal mode of operation than in the low-power mode of operation. The apparatus further includes a power-supply circuit. The power-supply circuit provides a normal supply voltage to the circuit in the normal mode of operation. The power-supply circuit includes a non-linear circuit to provide a compressed supply voltage to the circuit in the low-power mode of operation, wherein the normal supply voltage is greater than the compressed supply voltage.