Power Supply IC Feedback Terminal for External Setting Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power supply circuits, the reduction in size and multi-functionalization leads to difficulties in arranging a terminal dedicated for communication, making it challenging to establish cooperation between switching control circuits and external circuits.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit that includes a transistor, a signal detection circuit to receive a setting signal from an external circuit, and a driver circuit to drive the transistor based on the detected signal, allowing for communication through a shared terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a terminal dedicated to communications is arranged, then communication between switching control circuits and external circuits is enabled, but the terminal count increases and device size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback terminal FB is designed to serve dual purposes: receiving feedback voltage for power supply control and receiving setting signals for communication with external circuits. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate dedicated communication terminal, thereby reducing device size while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication function with the existing feedback terminal FB by equipping it with signal detection capability. The setting signal detection circuit is integrated into the feedback terminal, combining two functions (feedback reception and communication) into a single terminal structure.
2Area of stationary object
If terminal count is reduced for size reduction, then device size is minimized, but communication function cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback terminal FB is designed to serve dual purposes: receiving feedback voltage for power supply control and receiving setting signals for communication with external circuits. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate dedicated communication terminal, thereby reducing device size while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal detection circuit acts as an intermediary that enables the feedback terminal FB to detect and process setting signals from external circuits. This intermediary mechanism allows the terminal to adapt to communication functions without requiring structural modification or additional dedicated terminals.
3Reliability
If a dedicated communication terminal is used, then communication is established, but terminal usage efficiency decreases and multi-functionalization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback terminal FB is designed to serve dual purposes: receiving feedback voltage for power supply control and receiving setting signals for communication with external circuits. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate dedicated communication terminal, thereby reducing device size while maintaining communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit for a power supply circuit that includes a transistor and generates an output voltage of a target level. The integrated circuit is configured to switch the transistor. The integrated circuit includes a first terminal configured to receive a feedback voltage according to the output voltage, a signal detection circuit configured to detect, through the first terminal, a setting signal received from an external circuit that operates based on the output voltage, and a driver circuit configured to drive the transistor in response to the setting signal detected by the signal detection circuit.