Digital DC-DC Converter Deadlock Prevention via Dual Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing digital-controlled DC-DC converters face challenges in stabilizing feedback operations due to increased mounting area requirements and the deadlock state caused by the dependency on output voltage for controller operation, which is not fed until control parameters are supplied, leading to inoperable states.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a digital-controlled DC-DC converter that includes a non-volatile storage device and a processor, where control parameters are stored and read to set the PID control circuit characteristics, allowing stable feedback operation while minimizing area overhead by using a dual power supply system and mode switching between PWM and PFM signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a digital-controlled DC-DC converter with PID control circuit is used to stabilize feedback operation, then control flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and mounting area increase due to additional control circuits and parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The processor executes different control algorithms (including PID control) through software programs, allowing a single integrated device to perform multiple control functions. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each algorithm, reducing device complexity while maintaining control flexibility and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional analog control circuits with digital processing. The processor reads control parameters from memory and executes digital control algorithms to generate control signals, substituting complex analog circuitry with a more compact and flexible digital implementation that reduces overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control parameters are stored in a non-volatile storage device and read by a processor, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and area overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processor serves multiple functions: it reads control parameters from the non-volatile storage device, executes control algorithms, and generates control signals. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated hardware components into a single integrated processor, reducing the overall mounting area while maintaining full parameter configurability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control parameters are stored within the semiconductor device's non-volatile memory, and the processor (also within the same device) reads and executes these parameters. This nested structure integrates the storage and processing functions within the same chip, minimizing external components and reducing total mounting area while preserving adaptability.
3Device complexity
If the controller operates using the converter's output voltage as power supply, then device simplicity is improved, but a deadlock state occurs where the controller cannot operate until control parameters are supplied
Solution Approach 1:
The control parameters are pre-stored in the non-volatile storage device within the semiconductor device. When the device is powered on, the processor can immediately read these pre-stored parameters and begin control operations using the output voltage as power supply, avoiding the deadlock state. The preliminary storage of parameters enables immediate operation without external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor device is designed to be self-sufficient by integrating the non-volatile storage device, processor, and DC-DC converter into a single unit. The processor reads control parameters from the integrated storage and operates the converter using its own output voltage, eliminating the need for external controllers or power supplies. This self-service architecture prevents deadlock states and improves operational reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a semiconductor device with a digital-controlled DC-DC converter capable of stable feedback operation while minimizing area, the semiconductor device includes a DC-DC converter whose characteristic is determined by the control parameter, a flash memory and a processor that controls the flash memory, both of which operate at a power supply based on the output of the DC-DC converter. The control parameter is stored in the flash memory, and the control parameter is read out from the flash memory and set in the DC-DC converter by the processor while the DC-DC converter is operating.