Digital Linear Voltage Regulator With Binary Search Droop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductor-based voltage regulators face challenges in designing on-chip or near-silicon inductors for advanced microprocessors, leading to poor transient response times due to physical limitations and inefficiencies in power delivery.
Innovation Solution
A digital linear voltage regulator (DLVR) with a hybrid Non-Linear Control (NLC) and Linear Control (LC) technique, utilizing a Binary Search Algorithm (BSA) for faster transient recovery without inductors, integrated close to the load, enhancing bandwidth and settling time while mitigating parasitic inductances and non-idealities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If inductor-based voltage regulators are used, then power delivery efficiency is improved, but transient response time deteriorates due to physical limitations of inductors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the inductor component from the voltage regulator system, transitioning from an inductor-based switching converter to an inductor-free digital linear voltage regulator. This extraction eliminates the physical limitations of inductors that cause slow transient response, while maintaining power delivery efficiency through digital control techniques and non-linear control algorithms that dynamically adjust the output without requiring magnetic energy storage elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical inductor-based energy storage and transfer mechanism with a digital control system that uses binary search algorithms and non-linear control. Instead of relying on magnetic field dynamics and inductor current changes, the system uses digital signal processing and controlled adjustment of power delivery, substituting physical electromagnetic mechanisms with computational control methods that achieve faster response times.
2Ease of manufacture
If inductors are designed on-chip or close to silicon, then integration is improved, but design complexity and performance deteriorate due to physical limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inductor from the integrated circuit design entirely, eliminating the need for complex on-chip inductor fabrication and associated design challenges. By removing this difficult-to-integrate passive component, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining integration benefits through a fully digital control architecture that can be implemented using standard semiconductor fabrication processes.
3Power
If inductor-based solutions are used, then power delivery is improved, but transient response speed deteriorates due to prohibitive time to change current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inductor-based electromagnetic power delivery mechanism with a digital control system that directly regulates power output through binary search algorithms. This substitution eliminates the slow current change characteristic of inductors, enabling rapid power adjustment by using digital control loops that can instantly respond to load changes and adjust the output power without being constrained by magnetic field dynamics or inductor time constants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control through binary search algorithms and non-linear control techniques that continuously adapt the power delivery based on real-time feedback. This dynamic approach allows the system to rapidly adjust output power in response to changing load conditions, achieving fast transient response by iteratively refining the control signal rather than relying on the slow natural response of inductor-based systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for voltage regulator (VR) control are provided. An apparatus can include first, second, and third comparators configured to determine whether a load voltage (VLOAD) drops below a lower non-linear control (NLC) threshold, drops below a lower linear control (LC) threshold, and exceeds an upper LC threshold, respectively. The apparatus can include power gates (PGs) configured to adjust an output voltage (VOUT) based on a provided power gate (PG) code. The apparatus can include voltage regulator (VR) controller circuitry comprising synchronous LC circuitry and asynchronous NLC circuitry, the LC circuitry configured to increment or decrement the PG code responsive to the VLOAD dropping below the LC threshold and exceeding the upper LC threshold, respectively, and the NLC circuitry configured to increase the PG code based on a number of consecutive NLC droop events and responsive to the VLOAD dropping below the lower NLC threshold.