Dynamic Power Supply Circuit Voltage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuit devices often receive a power supply voltage higher than necessary due to voltage drops from wiring resistance, leading to excessive power consumption and temperature rises, especially when operating at lower currents than maximum capacity.

Innovation Solution

A power supply circuit that acquires the current flowing through the device and adjusts the input voltage based on this value, changing the voltage at different rates depending on whether the current is increasing or decreasing, with a slower reduction when current decreases to avoid sudden fluctuations and ensure sufficient power delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the power supply voltage is set higher to compensate for voltage drop at maximum current, then sufficient power delivery is ensured under maximum load, but excessive power consumption and temperature rise occur when operating at lower currents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower delivery sufficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply voltage is dynamically adjusted based on the actual current consumption of the integrated circuit device. The voltage control section continuously monitors current draw and modifies the power supply voltage in real-time, transitioning from a static high voltage setting to a dynamic voltage that adapts to varying load conditions, thereby reducing power consumption during low-current operation while maintaining reliability during high-current operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage parameter of the power supply based on the current operating conditions. By detecting the actual current consumption and adjusting the power supply voltage accordingly, the system optimizes the voltage parameter to match the instantaneous power requirements, preventing both over-voltage power waste and under-voltage reliability issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the power supply voltage is rapidly reduced when current decreases, then power consumption is minimized, but voltage instability and insufficient power delivery may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

When the current consumption decreases, the voltage control section does not immediately reduce the power supply voltage to its minimum level. Instead, it maintains the voltage at a sufficiently high level for a predetermined period before gradually reducing it. This cushioning approach prevents voltage instability and ensures continuous reliable power delivery while still achieving power consumption reduction, by anticipating potential voltage fluctuations and compensating for them in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2442420B1Power supply circuit and power supply method
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2442420B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2442420B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2442420B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a power supply circuit capable of suppressing a power supply voltage to be input to an integrated circuit device to low level. A power supply circuit (10) controls power supply to an integrated circuit device (30) having a built-in IC chip (31). The power supply circuit (10) acquires a value of a current flowing in the integrated circuit device, and changes a power supply voltage to be input to the integrated circuit device (30), in accordance with the acquired value of the current.