Configurable Feedback Path for Voltage Regulator Transients
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage regulators in electronic devices experience undesirable voltage droops due to current steps during transitions between different output voltage levels, leading to errors in devices such as mobile headsets, where abrupt changes in current output cause instability and erroneous operations.
Innovation Solution
A configurable feedback path within the voltage regulator is introduced to mitigate current step effects, activated during load transients and deactivated during steady-state operation, using components like switches and capacitors to quickly adapt to current demands and reduce voltage droops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple voltage regulators are used to cover different voltage ranges, then the voltage output range is improved, but voltage droop occurs during transitions between regulators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback path from the output node to the gate of the pass transistor. This feedback mechanism detects voltage droop during regulator transitions and automatically adjusts the gate voltage to compensate, maintaining stable output voltage across the full 0-3V range while using multiple regulators.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback path is designed to activate preemptively during transition periods between voltage regulators. By detecting the onset of voltage droop and responding immediately, the system compensates before the droop significantly affects output stability, ensuring seamless handoff between regulators.
2Speed
If the gate voltage of pass transistors is increased to improve response speed, then transition time is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic gate voltage adjustment through the feedback path. During steady-state operation, the gate voltage is maintained at a lower level for minimal power consumption. During transitions or transients, the feedback automatically increases gate voltage to accelerate response, then reduces it again, optimizing the balance between speed and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism dynamically changes the gate-to-source voltage parameter of the pass transistor based on output conditions. This parameter modulation allows the transistor to operate in different regions (linear vs. saturation) as needed, achieving fast response only when necessary and reducing power consumption during normal operation.
3Reliability
If a feedback path is always activated to reduce voltage droop, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selectively activated feedback path that operates periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The feedback is activated during detected transient conditions or transitions between regulators and deactivated during steady-state operation. This approach maintains voltage stability when needed while minimizing the active circuit elements during normal operation, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A feedback path may be provided within the voltage regulator to reduce the effect of a current step or load transient on the output of a voltage regulator. The feedback path may provide a fast path for stabilizing the voltage regulator after the load transient. The feedback path may be configurable to be activated or de-activated during operation of the voltage regulator. The feedback path may be activated when the voltage regulator takes over generation of an output voltage from another voltage regulator. The feedback path may then be de-activated to allow normal operation of the voltage regulator after a steady-state condition is reached.