Dual Regulator Circuit Automatic Mode Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual regulator circuits require additional pins to configure between LDO and switching regulator modes, increasing IC chip pinouts and costs, and are not efficiently configurable between the two modes without detecting the presence of an inductor.
Innovation Solution
An automatically configurable dual regulator circuit that uses a high-side switching device and a low-side switching device coupled at an output node, with control logic to determine the presence or absence of a flyback period to set the regulator type configuration mode based on feedback from an output terminal, eliminating the need for extra pins by using only an output pin and a feedback pin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an additional pin is used to configure the regulator mode, then the configurability between LDO and switching regulator modes is improved, but the IC chip pinouts and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit automatically detects the presence of an inductor through flyback period detection and configures itself as either LDO or switching regulator mode without requiring external configuration pins. The control logic monitors the output node voltage waveform characteristics and self-determines the optimal operating mode, eliminating the need for additional configuration pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit detects changes in the electrical parameters of the output node, specifically the voltage waveform characteristics during and after the high-side switching device is turned off. By monitoring whether the output voltage falls below the feedback pin voltage (indicating flyback period presence), the circuit dynamically changes its operating parameters to switch between LDO and switching regulator modes.
2Loss of energy
If an inductor is added to implement a switching regulator, then power efficiency is improved, but the PCB area and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit dynamically switches between LDO and switching regulator operating modes based on real-time detection of inductor presence through flyback period detection. When an inductor is detected, the circuit operates in switching regulator mode for high power efficiency; when no inductor is present, it automatically switches to LDO mode, allowing the same circuit to adapt to different power efficiency and PCB area requirements.
3Extent of automation
If flyback period detection is implemented, then automatic mode configuration is improved, but the control logic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit uses feedback from the output node voltage waveform to automatically detect the presence of an inductor. By monitoring whether the output voltage falls below the feedback pin voltage after the high-side switching device is turned off, the control logic receives feedback about the circuit configuration and automatically adjusts the operating mode accordingly, achieving automatic configuration through simple voltage threshold comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
Automatically configurable dual regulator type circuits and methods are provided. On embodiment of the invention includes an automatically configurable dual regulator type circuit. The circuit comprises a high-side switching device (HS-SD) coupled to a low-side switching device (LS-SD) at an output node. The circuit further comprises a control logic device that turns on the HS-SD to provide an output current to a user selected circuit configuration through the output node, turns off the HS-SD after a voltage fed back from an output terminal of the user selected circuit configuration exceeds a first threshold and sets a regulator type configuration mode based on the presence or absence of a flyback period at the output node after the HS-SD has been turned off.