Glitch Compensation Circuit for Voltage Regulator Droop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Voltage regulators experience negative glitches in output signals due to load current changes, leading to delayed voltage settling, which existing solutions attempt to address by increasing decoupling capacitor size or adding components, resulting in increased complexity and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A circuit comprising a glitch amplifier, pulse generator, and transistor that detects threshold voltages to generate a control signal, activating a compensating current surge during negative glitches to stabilize the output signal, without modifying the voltage regulator design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the size of decoupling capacitor is increased to reduce voltage droop during load variations, then the voltage stability is improved, but the circuit area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external circuit comprising a glitch amplifier, pulse generator, and transistor as an intermediary system. This external circuit detects voltage droops and provides compensating current surges, effectively replacing the need for large decoupling capacitors while maintaining voltage stability during load transitions.
2Speed
If more components are added to the voltage regulator to reduce transient response time, then the response speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the voltage regulation function from the transient response compensation function. The original voltage regulator maintains its simple design, while an external dedicated circuit handles the transient response by detecting glitches and providing compensating current, thus achieving fast response without complicating the regulator itself.
3Speed
If more components are added to the voltage regulator to reduce feedback delay, then the response speed is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an external intermediary circuit that activates only during transient conditions. The glitch amplifier and pulse generator detect voltage droops and provide compensating current surges on-demand, avoiding continuous operation and thus preventing increased steady-state power consumption while achieving faster transient response.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit that stabilizes an output signal of a voltage regulator includes a glitch amplifier, a pulse generator, and a transistor. The glitch amplifier amplifies glitches in the output signal and generates a glitch amplifier output signal. The pulse generator receives the glitch amplifier output signal and generates a control signal. When there is a positive glitch in the output signal and a voltage level of the glitch amplifier output signal is less than a first threshold voltage, the pulse generator deactivates the control signal, which turns off the transistor. When there is a negative glitch in the output signal and the voltage level of the glitch amplifier output signal is greater than a second threshold voltage, the pulse generator activates the control signal, which turns on the transistor and provides a compensating current surge to reduce a voltage droop in the output signal.