Driver Circuit Power Efficiency via Dual Voltage Supplies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) systems experience unnecessary power consumption due to the need for power drivers to operate over a wide voltage range, even when only a limited portion of this range is required, leading to inefficiency in signal and power delivery.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a driving circuit that sources and sinks current from power supplies of differing voltage levels, allowing the circuit to provide current over a wide voltage range with reduced power consumption by using a second power supply with a lower voltage for lower voltage applications, thereby minimizing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a power driver is designed to handle a wide voltage range (e.g., +/−15 volts), then the capability range is improved, but power consumption increases unnecessarily when only a limited portion of the range is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage range capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power driver is segmented into multiple independent power supply modules, each operating at a different voltage level. Instead of using a single high-voltage supply for all operations, the system divides the power delivery function across multiple supplies (e.g., +15V, -15V, +5V, -5V), allowing selective activation based on the specific voltage requirements of the device under test.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operating parameters by selecting different voltage levels from available power supplies based on the current test requirements. When only low voltage is needed, the system switches to lower voltage supplies, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining the capability to operate at higher voltages when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single high-voltage power supply is used to provide current over a wide voltage range, then the output voltage range is improved, but power consumption increases due to the voltage difference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltage rangeVSAvoidpower loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple power supplies at intermediate voltage levels act as mediators between the high-voltage requirements and low-power operation. Instead of directly using a +15V supply to provide +5V output, the system can selectively engage +5V or -5V supplies as intermediaries, reducing the voltage differential and associated power losses while maintaining the ability to achieve wide voltage ranges when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10180453B2Increased power efficiency in driver circuits

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 ANALOG TEST ENGINES

AI summary

Methods and systems for sourcing and/or sinking current from power supplies of differing voltage levels. A driving circuit may, for example, receive power from first and second power supplies, where the first power supply provides current to the driving circuit at a first voltage level and the second power supply provides current to the driving circuit at a second voltage level, and where the first voltage is greater than the second voltage. As a result, the first power supply allows the driving circuit to provide current over a wide voltage range, and the second power supply allows the driving circuit to provide current at lower voltages with less power consumption.