Multi-Phase Voltage Regulator Using Delay-Circuit Current Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-phase DC-DC converters face challenges in maintaining consistent output power between different phases, affecting power supply stability.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase voltage regulator and current balancing circuit that adjusts the duty cycle of control signals based on the difference between output currents and an average current, using a current comparison circuit and delay circuit to balance currents across phases without altering response or ramp voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional multi-phase DC-DC converters are used without current balancing circuits, then the device complexity is reduced, but the output power consistency and power supply stability between different phases deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a current balancing circuit as an intermediary component between the power output stage and the compensation circuit. This circuit includes current detection circuits, voltage regulator circuits, and delay circuits that work together to detect output currents, generate error signals, and adjust duty cycles to balance currents across different phases, thereby improving power supply stability without requiring fundamental changes to the converter architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where current detection circuits continuously monitor the output currents of different phases, compare them with reference values to generate error signals, and feed these error signals back to the voltage regulator circuits. The voltage regulator circuits then adjust the duty cycles of control signals based on these feedback error signals, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically maintains current balance and improves reliability
2Reliability
If duty cycle adjustment is made by changing response voltage or ramp voltage levels, then the current balancing effect is achieved, but the manufacturing precision and circuit parameter stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic duty cycle adjustment through delay circuits that modify the pulse width of control signals in real-time based on detected current imbalances. Instead of changing fixed voltage levels like response voltage or ramp voltage, the system dynamically varies the duration of control pulses applied to each phase, allowing flexible current balancing without altering critical circuit parameters that would require precise manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter (duty cycle) rather than voltage parameters to achieve current balancing. By adjusting the width of control pulses in the time domain through delay circuits, the system achieves current balance without modifying voltage levels, thereby avoiding the need for high manufacturing precision in voltage reference circuits and maintaining circuit parameter stability
3Reliability
If voltage regulator circuits are added between power output stage and compensation circuit, then the current balancing and power supply stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage regulator function into distinct modular components: current detection circuits for each phase, error signal generation circuits, and delay circuits for duty cycle adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable while achieving current balancing across multiple phases through coordinated operation of these modular units
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-phase voltage regulator is coupled to a multi-phase DC-DC converter and comprises multiple voltage regulator circuits. The voltage regulator circuit is coupled between a power output stage circuit and a compensation circuit, and is configured to generate multiple control signals according to a compensation signal, so that the power output stage circuit generates multiple output currents. The voltage regulator circuit comprises a current comparison circuit and a delay circuit. The current comparison circuit is configured to obtain a error signal. The error signal is the difference between a threshold current and the corresponding output current. The delay circuit is is configured to generate a corresponding control signal according to the compensation signal. The delay circuit is configured to adjust a bias current in the delay circuit according to the error signal to adjust a duty cycle of the corresponding control signal.