Daisy Chain Control Circuits for Multiphase Switching Converters

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Multiphase switching converters with single controllers face challenges in scalability and cost due to the need for adjusting logic, circuit, and controller size as the number of phases increases, and existing architectures lack efficient fault handling and dynamic adjustment mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A daisy chain architecture for multiphase switching converters with multiple control circuits, where each control circuit has phase control input and output terminals, allowing for automatic adjustment of the number of switching circuits and fault handling by dynamically switching between master and slave control modes, enabling phase interleaving, shedding, and adding without additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the number of phases in a multiphase switching converter is increased to meet higher current requirements, then the output current capability is improved, but the controller complexity and development burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput current capabilityVSAvoidcontroller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is divided into multiple independent control circuits, each capable of controlling one or more switching circuits. Each control circuit is a standardized module with fixed logic and circuit structure, allowing the overall system to be scaled by simply adding more modules rather than redesigning the entire controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple control circuits are nested within a single controller package, with each control circuit being a self-contained module. The controller can accommodate 2, 3, 4, or more control circuits depending on the application requirements, providing scalability without increasing individual module complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the controller size is increased to accommodate more phases, then the number of controllable switching circuits is improved, but the overall system cost and development burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of controllable switching circuitsVSAvoidsystem development burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Each control circuit is designed as a universal module capable of operating independently or in combination with other identical modules. The standardized interface and logic allow the same control circuit design to be used across different phase configurations (2-phase, 3-phase, 4-phase, etc.), eliminating the need for custom designs for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller architecture dynamically adapts to different phase requirements by enabling or disabling specific control circuits based on load conditions. The system can operate with fewer phases under light load and scale up to more phases under heavy load, providing flexible adaptability without fixed configuration constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a single controller architecture is used for all phase configurations, then design consistency is maintained, but scalability and flexibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign consistencyVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The single controller is segmented into multiple identical control circuit modules, each with consistent internal logic and structure. This modular segmentation maintains design consistency within each module while enabling scalability through the addition or removal of modules, effectively resolving the contradiction between uniformity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple control circuits are used in a daisy chain configuration, then scalability is improved, but fault handling and system reliability become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidfault handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Control circuits are connected in a daisy chain configuration where each circuit receives feedback signals from adjacent circuits. This feedback mechanism enables automatic fault detection and isolation, where a faulty circuit can be identified and bypassed without affecting the operation of other circuits, thereby maintaining system reliability while enabling scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11545902B2Multiphase switching converters, control circuits with daisy chain configuration and associated fault protection method

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYST

AI summary

A multiphase switching converter has a plurality of switching circuits coupled in parallel, and a plurality of control circuits configured in a daisy chain. Each control circuit receives a phase input signal, and provides a phase output signal and a switching control signal for controlling a corresponding switching circuit. One of the control circuits is a master control circuit, if a fault is detected by the master control circuit, then the master control circuit provides the phase output signal satisfying a master transfer type, and then the master control circuit changes to a slave control circuit.