DC-DC Down-Converter With Simulated Charge Pump Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage converters in electronic devices face issues with current absorption peaks causing sudden drops in regulated voltage, leading to performance malfunctions and high power consumption, especially in non-volatile memory systems.
Innovation Solution
A voltage converter device that includes a voltage regulator and a charge pump with a feedback system using capacitive stages and a clock signal to generate boosted voltage, where the voltage regulator's feedback circuitry controls the power and regulation transistors based on an equivalent capacity of the charge pump, allowing for efficient handling of current absorption peaks without substantial power consumption increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an operational amplifier with very high response speed is implemented in the feedback loop, then the response speed to power consumption peaks is improved, but the power consumption increases very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simulation block that creates a simplified copy of the charge pump's capacitive behavior. Instead of using a complex high-speed operational amplifier to directly control the charge pump, the invention simulates the charge pump's equivalent capacity in a feedback loop with a voltage regulator. This simulation approach allows the system to respond to current absorption peaks with adequate speed while using lower-power components, thus resolving the contradiction between response speed and power consumption.
2Reliability
If a stabilizing capacitor is added to the output terminal of the voltage regulator, then the response to power consumption peaks is improved, but the area consumption and electric power for maintaining it charged increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than physically adding a large stabilizing capacitor to the voltage regulator output, the invention creates a simulated capacitive effect in the feedback loop. The simulation block replicates the charge pump's equivalent capacity, allowing the feedback mechanism to anticipate and respond to current absorption peaks without requiring physical energy storage elements. This approach maintains system stability while avoiding the area and power penalties of large physical capacitors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the regulated voltage is kept at a very low value to correctly power electronic systems, then the compatibility with electronic systems is improved, but the charge pump structure becomes rather bulky with a large number of pumping stages
Solution Approach 1:
The invention simulates the charge pump's capacitive behavior in a feedback loop, which allows for optimized charge pump design. By modeling the equivalent capacity of the charge pump in the simulation block, the system can maintain low regulated voltage for compatibility with electronic systems while the feedback mechanism compensates for the reduced voltage headroom. This enables the use of more compact charge pump structures with fewer pumping stages, as the simulated feedback provides the necessary regulation precision without requiring excessive voltage multiplication stages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively manages current absorption peaks, reducing voltage drops and maintaining performance while minimizing power consumption and achieving a compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
a sequence of capacitive stages that stores and transfers electric charge alternately according to the clock signal for generating the boosted voltage from the regulated voltage
Implementation Method 2
feedback means connected to the second conduction terminal of the regulation transistor for providing at least one feedback signal, and regulation means for controlling the control terminals of the power transistor and of the regulation transistor according to said at least one feedback signal
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage converter device includes a voltage regulator having a supply terminal for receiving a supply voltage and an output terminal for providing a regulated voltage. A voltage multiplier is for receiving the regulated voltage and providing a boosted voltage higher in absolute value than the regulated voltage. The voltage multiplier includes circuitry for providing a clock signal that switches periodically between the regulated voltage and a reference voltage, and a sequence of capacitive stages that alternately accumulate and transfer electric charge according to the clock signal for generating the boosted voltage from the regulated voltage. The voltage regulator includes a power transistor and a regulation transistor each having a first conduction terminal, a second conduction terminal and a control terminal.