Digital Frequency Response Analyzer for Power Supply Loop Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analog Frequency Response Analyzers are limited in their ability to measure digital power supply designs effectively, as they cannot connect to and capture necessary information in key locations, leading to insufficient loop measurement capabilities for accurate design implementation.
Innovation Solution
A Digital Frequency Response Analyzer (DFRA) that interfaces with microcontroller-based power supply designs, enabling both analog and digital frequency response analysis by injecting signals, correlating analog and digital data, and processing gain/phase information to optimize power supply design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an Analog Frequency Response Analyzer is used to measure power supply designs, then the analyzer can provide basic frequency response measurement capability, but it cannot effectively measure digital power supply designs because it cannot connect to and capture information in key locations within digital circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a digital frequency response analyzer that acts as an intermediary device, connecting to digital power supply designs through digital interfaces (such as SPI, I2C, or parallel data buses) rather than analog connections. This digital intermediary captures information from key locations within the digital circuit (ADC, PWM, error amplifier, compensation network) and transmits it to the analyzer for processing, thereby enabling effective measurement of digital power supply designs while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the analog measurement system with a digital measurement system. Instead of using analog probes and connections to measure frequency response, the system uses digital signal processing techniques including digital injection of test signals, digital correlation of input and output signals, and digital computation of gain and phase information. This substitution enables the analyzer to interface with and measure digital power supply designs effectively
2Adaptability or versatility
If microcontroller-based solutions replace analog control components in power supplies, then the power supply gains versatility and real-time control capability, but the measurement capability of traditional analog analyzers becomes insufficient for accurate design implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement system that can handle both analog and digital power supply designs. The digital frequency response analyzer incorporates multiple interface options (analog injection channels, digital data bus connections) and can adapt to different power supply architectures. This multi-functional approach allows the same analyzer to measure both traditional analog control circuits and modern microcontroller-based digital control circuits, providing accurate loop measurement capability across diverse designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs digital signal processing techniques that involve changing the parameters of the measurement system from analog to digital domain. The analyzer injects digital test signals, samples digital output signals from the power supply, and processes these signals through digital correlation and Fourier transformation algorithms. This parameter change from analog to digital measurement enables accurate capture of loop gain and phase information in microcontroller-based power supplies
Data Source
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AI summary
A frequency response analyzer (102, 318) includes a signal generator (104), a reference channel module (105), and a digital frequency response analyzer (110). The signal generator (104) provides an output signal to a unit under test (112, 200), and provides a first synchronization signal. The reference channel module (105) includes an input coupled to the first output of the signal generator (104), and provides phase information data of the output signal. The digital frequency response analyzer (102, 318) receives the first synchronization signal, and a second input to receive digitized analog data from the unit under test (112, 200). A processor of the frequency response analyzer (102, 318) correlates received digitized analog data to received analog data based on the phase, and determines a transfer function of the plant of the unit under test (112, 200) based on the correlation of received digitized analog data and received analog data.