Digital Error Signal Comparator for Power Converter Voltage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power converters rely on analog feedback components, which are costly and limited by temperature, noise, and response time issues, making them inefficient for maintaining stable output voltage.
Innovation Solution
A digital error feedback system using a digital comparator and digital signal generators to compare output voltage with a reference signal, generating a control signal to adjust the power converter's operation, thereby maintaining desired output voltage without the need for analog signal compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog feedback components are used to measure and compare output voltage, then the power converter can maintain stable output voltage, but the system incurs increased cost and requires temperature, noise, and response time compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the analog feedback system with a digital feedback system. Specifically, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are used to convert the output voltage signal into a digital signal, which is then processed by a microcontroller or digital signal processor. This substitution eliminates the need for analog compensation circuits for temperature, noise, and response time, as digital signals are inherently more resistant to these factors. The digital processing allows for precise voltage measurement and control without the complexity of analog compensation networks.
2Ease of operation
If analog feedback signals are used to transmit reference and output voltages, then the power converter can operate, but additional cost is incurred for temperature, noise, and response time compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes analog feedback signals with digital feedback signals. The output voltage is converted to a digital signal via ADC, and the reference voltage is also represented in digital form. These digital signals are processed by a microcontroller that implements the feedback control algorithm. This digital approach maintains full operation capability while eliminating the need for expensive analog compensation components for temperature stability, noise filtering, and response time adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the analog feedback signal through ADC conversion. The continuous analog voltage signal is sampled and converted into a discrete digital representation that preserves the essential information needed for feedback control. This digital copy can be processed without the vulnerabilities of the original analog signal to temperature drift, noise interference, and response time limitations, thereby reducing compensation costs while maintaining operational capability.
3Device complexity
If digital error feedback system is used to compare digital signals, then the desired output voltage is maintained without analog compensation expenses, but the system requires digital comparator and digital signal generators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple digital components into an integrated solution. The digital comparator, digital signal generators, and microcontroller are combined into a single integrated circuit or system-on-chip. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of discrete components that need to be assembled and tested. The digital error feedback system becomes a modular unit that can be easily incorporated into the power converter design, offsetting the initial complexity with streamlined manufacturing and assembly processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital error feedback system, method and device adjusts the output voltage of a power converter. The digital error feedback system uses a digital comparator and one or more digital signal generators to generate and compare a digital signal corresponding to the output voltage to a reference digital signal in order to determine the current amount of error in the output voltage. The error is then able to be compensated for using a control signal generated based on the determined error.