Hybrid LDO Regulator for Peak Current and Voltage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Related analog LDO regulators face challenges in accurately supplying current to load blocks that consume spike or peak currents, leading to significant fluctuations in output voltage, necessitating large-capacity decoupling capacitors that increase the size of the regulator.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid LDO regulator combines an analog LDO regulator to provide average current and a digital LDO regulator to supply peak current based on information about peak current consumption, minimizing voltage fluctuations and allowing for a smaller decoupling capacitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an analog LDO regulator is used, then noise characteristics are good, but the required current cannot be accurately supplied to load blocks consuming spike current or peak current, resulting in large fluctuations in output voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The current supply function is segmented into two independent paths: an analog LDO regulator path for average current supply with low noise, and a digital LDO regulator path for peak current supply with high responsiveness. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between noise performance and voltage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between analog and digital regulation modes based on load conditions. The digital LDO regulator is activated during peak current consumption to maintain output voltage stability, while the analog LDO regulator operates during normal conditions to minimize noise. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the appropriate regulation mode for each operating condition.
2Reliability
If a large-capacity decoupling capacitor is used to reduce fluctuations in output voltage, then output voltage stability is improved, but the LDO regulator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling capacitor function is segmented and redistributed: a small decoupling capacitor handles peak current transients, while the digital LDO regulator handles average current regulation. This segmentation eliminates the need for a large decoupling capacitor, maintaining output voltage stability while reducing the overall regulator size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the capacitance parameter of the decoupling capacitor from large to small by introducing active digital regulation. The digital LDO regulator compensates for the reduced capacitor size by providing active current supplementation during peak demand, thereby maintaining voltage stability without requiring large passive energy storage elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid low drop-out (LDO) regulator is provided. The hybrid LDO regulator provides current to a load block, and includes: an analog LDO regulator configured to provide a first current corresponding to an average current consumed by the load block; and a digital LDO regulator configured to provide a second current corresponding to a peak current consumed by the load block based on information indicating the peak current is consumed.