DC-to-DC Converter Temperature Coefficient Current Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Parallel connected DC-to-DC power converters experience non-uniform output voltage variations due to temperature changes, leading to potential overcurrent and over-temperature issues, especially in compact and power-dense architectures, which can cause individual converters to oversupply and shut down, disrupting power delivery.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a temperature coefficient into the control loop of each DC-to-DC power converter to regulate output voltage across a range of temperatures, ensuring uniform voltage responses and preventing oversupply by adjusting the output voltage based on temperature sense signals and stored coefficients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If parallel connected DC-to-DC power converters are used to increase power delivery capacity, then the total power output is improved, but non-uniform current sharing occurs due to temperature variations causing individual converters to oversupply and shut down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors monitor the temperature of each power converter, and the controller adjusts the output voltage of each converter based on the measured temperature and stored temperature coefficients. This closed-loop feedback ensures that temperature-induced variations in reference voltage are compensated, maintaining uniform current sharing among parallel converters and preventing oversupply conditions that would trigger shutdowns.
2Volume of moving object
If compact and power dense converter architectures are adopted to reduce size, then the volume is reduced, but waste heat increases causing greater temperature variations and wider output voltage variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the power converters by dynamically adjusting the output voltage based on temperature conditions. Temperature coefficients stored in memory are applied to modify the reference voltage parameter in real-time, compensating for temperature-induced drift. This parameter adjustment maintains output voltage uniformity across converters even when operating in compact, high-density configurations that generate significant waste heat.
3Manufacturing precision
If reference voltage generators are used for control and regulation, then the output voltage regulation is achieved, but part-to-part variations occur as a function of temperature causing non-uniform output voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-characterizing each reference voltage generator's temperature response and storing individual temperature coefficients in memory before operation. During normal operation, these pre-determined coefficients are retrieved and applied to compensate for temperature-induced variations. This preliminary characterization and compensation approach eliminates the need for complex real-time calibration while ensuring uniform output voltage across all converters despite part-to-part variations in reference voltage generators.
Data Source
AI summary
A DC-to-DC power converter includes a reference voltage generator and a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable memory. The memory stores a temperature coefficient, and the temperature coefficient is based upon a temperature response of said reference voltage generator over a range of temperatures. The DC-to-DC power converter also includes a controller coupled to the reference voltage generator and the memory and operable to retrieve the temperature coefficient from the memory, and adjust an output voltage of the DC-to-DC power converter based upon the temperature coefficient.