Hybrid Regulator Feedback Control for Wide-Range Voltage Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage regulators, particularly switched-inductor regulators, are bulky and inefficient, consuming large space in electronic devices due to the size and parasitic resistance of inductors, and switched-capacitor regulators face efficiency issues at non-predetermined output voltages, making them unsuitable for highly integrated systems.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid regulator system combining a switched-inductor regulator and a switched-capacitor regulator, with a feedback control system that adjusts operating frequencies and current delivery to maintain output voltage within a tolerance range, using a multi-phase configuration and bypass switches to optimize efficiency across a wide voltage range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a switched-inductor regulator is used to deliver voltage from power source to output load, then voltage conversion capability is improved, but the size and parasitic resistance of inductor increase causing bulky components and large area occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage regulation function into multiple converter stages (first converter stage with switched-inductor regulator, second converter stage with switched-capacitor regulator) instead of using a single large inductor-based regulator. This segmentation allows each stage to handle specific voltage conversion tasks, reducing the size requirements for individual components while maintaining overall power conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges switched-inductor and switched-capacitor regulator topologies into a hybrid multi-stage architecture. The first converter stage uses switched-inductor topology for initial voltage conversion, while the second converter stage uses switched-capacitor topology for final voltage regulation, combining the advantages of both approaches to reduce overall component size and parasitic effects.
2Loss of energy
If switched-inductor regulator uses large inductor to maintain efficiency at high current, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but the regulator size increases making it unsuitable for highly integrated systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the high-current power conversion task across multiple converter stages, allowing each stage to operate at optimized current levels. The first converter stage handles bulk power conversion while the second converter stage performs fine-grained voltage regulation, enabling efficient operation without requiring a single large inductor that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the regulator system by introducing multiple converter stages with different topologies. This allows the system to maintain high power conversion efficiency across a wide range of output currents and voltages without requiring the inductor size to scale proportionally with current demands, thus improving integrability.
3Area of stationary object
If switched-capacitor regulator is used for voltage conversion, then component size is reduced, but efficiency deteriorates at non-predetermined output voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines switched-inductor and switched-capacitor regulator stages in a hybrid architecture where the switched-capacitor stage benefits from pre-conditioned input voltage from the switched-inductor stage. This merging allows the switched-capacitor regulator to maintain high efficiency across a wider voltage range while keeping component sizes small, overcoming the limitation of fixed-ratio operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control mechanisms including feedback systems that adjust operating frequencies and bypass switches that dynamically reconfigure the regulator topology. This dynamic adaptation allows the switched-capacitor stage to maintain high efficiency across varying output voltage conditions while preserving the compact component size advantage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple voltage domains are delivered to support complex mobile SoCs, then system functionality is improved, but the number and size of voltage regulators increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the hybrid regulator system with universal applicability to multiple voltage domains through configurable converter stages and bypass switches. The multi-stage architecture can be dynamically reconfigured to support different voltage conversion ratios and current requirements, allowing a single regulator module to serve multiple voltage domains without requiring separate dedicated regulators for each domain.
Data Source
AI summary
A feedback system that can control hybrid regulator topologies that have multiple converters or regulators connected in series is described. The hybrid regulator can include at least two regulators: a switched inductor regulator and a switched-capacitor regulator. The feedback system can simplify feedback design for the hybrid regulator that can include multiple converter stages and can control the feedback to improve the efficiency of a hybrid regulator.