Hybrid Power Supply Control for Processor Peak Load Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face performance degradation due to insufficient power supply during high-power operations, leading to frequency reduction and potential system instability, as they often rely on a single power source or battery.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a hybrid power supply system that switches to a hybrid power mode when the operating power exceeds a threshold, utilizing both a battery with higher energy levels and an external power source to supply power simultaneously, thereby maintaining performance without frequency reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a single power source or battery is used to supply power to the electronic device, then the device structure remains simple, but the power supply is insufficient during high-power operations leading to frequency reduction and performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capacityVSAvoidpower source configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple power sources (battery and external power source) into a hybrid power supply system. The power management integrated circuit coordinates the battery and external power source to work together, merging their power output capabilities to provide sufficient power during high-performance operations while maintaining stable voltage supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The power management integrated circuit is designed to handle multiple power sources universally. It can manage power from the battery alone, external power source alone, or both combined, adapting to different operating scenarios and providing flexible power supply configuration without requiring separate control circuits for each mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the processor performs frequency reduction to prevent system abnormalities under insufficient power, then system stability is maintained, but computer performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidcomputer performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management integrated circuit proactively monitors power availability and switches to hybrid power supply mode before power deficiency causes system abnormalities. By detecting when external power is available and the battery has sufficient capacity, it preemptively activates the hybrid mode to ensure adequate power headroom for high-performance operations, preventing the need for frequency reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the processor releases power limit in hybrid power supply mode, then operating performance increases by up to 29.45%, but power management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessor operating performanceVSAvoidpower management control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management integrated circuit implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the power supply status, battery energy level, and external power availability. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts the power supply mode (single battery, single external power, or hybrid mode) and controls the power release limit of the processor, ensuring optimal performance while maintaining manageable power management complexity through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4425486A1Electronic device with hybrid power source and method for hybrid power supply
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 GETAC TECH CORP
  • EP4425486A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4425486A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4425486A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device with hybrid power source includes a system circuit (100), a charging and discharging circuit (110), a power connector (120), two batteries (130), and a controller (140). The charging and discharging circuit (110) is connected to the system circuit (100), the power connector (120), and the two batteries (130). The controller (140) is connected to the processor (101) and the charging and discharging circuit (110), and the controller (140) has a hybrid power supply mode. The controller (140) detects the operating power of the processor (101) in the system circuit (100), and controls the power mode from a single power mode to a hybrid power supply mode in response to that the operating power reaches or exceeds the power threshold. In the hybrid power supply mode, under control of the controller (140), the processor (101) releases a power limit, and the charging and discharging circuit (110) powers the system circuit (100) by using both the battery (130) with greater energy level and an external power.