Ganged LDO Current Balancing for Headroom-Efficient Power Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply systems using voltage regulators face inefficiencies due to variations in load current and input voltage, particularly when multiple low-dropout (LDO) regulators are used, as they can operate outside optimal headroom ranges, leading to reduced performance and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that includes multiple LDO regulators with a current balancer circuit to adjust output currents based on determined headrooms, ensuring operation within an acceptable headroom range, thereby improving power efficiency and flexibility by ganging regulators to meet higher current demands and repurpose existing PMICs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple LDO regulators are used to meet higher current demands, then the current supply capability is improved, but the regulators may operate outside optimal headroom ranges leading to reduced performance and increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a current balancer circuit that continuously monitors the headroom of each LDO regulator and dynamically adjusts their output currents. This feedback mechanism ensures that regulators operating outside optimal headroom ranges have their currents reduced, while others compensate, thereby maintaining overall power efficiency while meeting high current demands
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating points of multiple LDO regulators based on real-time headroom conditions. The current balancer circuit modifies the output current of each regulator dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing load conditions and maintain optimal efficiency across varying operating scenarios
2Power
If multiple LDO regulators are ganged together to meet higher current demands, then the current supply capability is improved, but thermal challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The current balancer circuit monitors headroom conditions that directly relate to thermal performance. By feedback control, it prevents regulators from operating in high-dissipation regions, thereby reducing heat generation. The system dynamically redistributes current to minimize total power dissipation across all regulators, addressing thermal challenges while maintaining high current supply capability
3Device complexity
If voltage regulators operate outside optimal headroom ranges, then the device complexity is reduced, but the performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automatic current balancing without requiring complex external control circuitry. The current balancer circuit autonomously monitors headroom conditions and adjusts regulator outputs based on predetermined criteria, eliminating the need for complex manual intervention or sophisticated control algorithms while maintaining optimal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the LDO regulators dynamically based on headroom conditions. The current balancer circuit modifies output current parameters automatically, allowing regulators to operate within optimal ranges. This parameter adjustment mechanism maintains high performance without requiring complex device architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a power supply system. The power supply system generally includes a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator, outputs of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator being coupled to an output of the power supply system. The power supply system may also include a current balancer circuit configured to adjust an output current of the first voltage regulator based on determined headrooms of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator.