Multi-Cell Power Supply Current Sensor Floating Ground Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-cell power supplies face challenges in providing high voltage isolation for current sensors, leading to increased cost and complexity, as well as requiring high voltage resistors and complex routing for voltage feedback, which complicates the implementation of feedback sensing systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of current sensor circuits powered by and coupled to the power cell being measured, eliminating the need for high voltage isolation, and using resistor networks between output terminals and a floating ground node within each power cell to provide voltage feedback, allowing for conventional resistor use and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high voltage isolation is provided for current sensors in multi-cell power supplies, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the power cell's own floating ground node as a reference for the current sensor circuit, rather than requiring isolation from the main system ground. This mediator (floating ground node) allows the current sensor to measure high voltage currents accurately without needing complex high voltage isolation circuitry, as the sensor operates relative to the local floating reference of its own power cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multi-cell power supply into independent measurement units where each current sensor circuit is self-contained within its own power cell. Each sensor circuit has its own power supply and reference node, creating modular independent measurement systems. This segmentation eliminates the need for system-wide high voltage isolation, as each segment (power cell with its sensor) is independently referenced to its own floating ground.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional resistors are used in resistor networks, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but voltage feedback accuracy may be compromised without high voltage isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized reference environment within each power cell. The floating ground node provides a stable local reference potential that is appropriate for the high voltage environment of that specific power cell. This allows conventional resistors to be used in the feedback networks, as they operate within the controlled local potential environment of their own power cell, eliminating the need for special high voltage isolated resistors while maintaining feedback accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If high voltage resistors and complex routing are used for voltage feedback, then voltage feedback accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floating ground node acts as an intermediary reference point that simplifies the feedback routing. By using the local floating ground of each power cell as the reference for feedback resistors, the patent eliminates the need for complex routed isolation barriers. The feedback signals can be taken locally from each power cell's output terminals and referenced to its own floating ground, creating simple local feedback loops without requiring complex system-wide routing.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods in accordance with this invention provide a multi-cell power supply for receiving power from a source and delivering power at an output terminal to a load. The multi-cell power supply includes a first power cell coupled to the source, and a first current sensor circuit. The first power cell provides a first output current, and includes a first output terminal coupled to a reference node of the multi-cell power supply, and a second output terminal coupled to the output terminal. The first current sensor circuit includes a first current sensor and a power supply. The first current sensor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first power cell, and measures the first output current. The power supply is coupled to either the reference node or a floating ground node of the first power cell, and provides power to the first current sensor.