DC/DC Converter Dynamic Phase Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing DC/DC converters experience an increase in output voltage ripple when the number of drive phases is changed, while maintaining a fixed switching frequency, which is undesirable for efficient voltage regulation.
Innovation Solution
The DC/DC converter dynamically adjusts the switching frequency based on the number of drive phases, ensuring that the product of the switching frequency and the number of phases aligns with the resonant frequency of the smoothing circuit to minimize ripple and maintain high efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of drive phases is changed while maintaining a fixed switching frequency, then the DC/DC converter can adapt to different load conditions, but the output voltage ripple increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the switching frequency parameter dynamically based on the number of drive phases. When the number of drive phases changes, the switching frequency is adjusted accordingly to maintain a constant product between switching frequency and number of phases, thereby suppressing output voltage ripple while preserving adaptability to different load conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the switching frequency in response to changes in the number of drive phases. The control unit dynamically modifies the switching frequency to compensate for ripple increases, enabling the system to adapt to varying load conditions while maintaining stable output voltage
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the switching frequency is increased to reduce output voltage ripple, then the ripple is suppressed, but the efficiency of the DC/DC converter decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply increasing the switching frequency to reduce ripple, the patent optimizes the switching frequency by maintaining a constant product relationship with the number of drive phases. This allows the system to achieve ripple suppression through coordinated phase and frequency adjustment rather than brute-force frequency increase, thereby preserving converter efficiency
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the switching frequency is adjusted to maintain constant product with drive phases, then the output voltage ripple is suppressed, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control unit that monitors the number of drive phases and automatically adjusts the switching frequency to maintain the constant product relationship. This feedback mechanism simplifies the overall control by providing an automatic adjustment rule rather than requiring complex external intervention, though it does add internal control logic
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is to provide a DC/DC converter capable of suppressing increase in the ripple amount of the output voltage in association with switching of the number of drive phases. N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) switching circuits each generate a switching voltage at the switching node according to an input pulse signal. A phase controller dynamically switches the number K (K is an integer equal to or smaller than N) of drive phases according to the state of a DC/DC converter at the time. A pulse modulator generates a pulse signal whose frequency changes according to the number K of drive phases. A distributor selects K switching circuits among the N switching circuits and distributes the pulse signal to each of the selected K switching circuits with a phase difference of (360/K) degrees.