Integrated Circuit Primary Secondary Voltage Regulation Selector

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems require different integrated circuits for primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation, leading to increased costs and reduced flexibility, as each type has advantages and disadvantages suited to specific power applications.

Innovation Solution

An integrated circuit with a selector pin that detects a pin voltage and compares it to a threshold voltage to selectively choose between primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation, allowing a single circuit to adapt to different power requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different integrated circuits are used for primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation, then voltage regulation performance is optimized for specific applications, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage regulation performanceVSAvoidnumber of integrated circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated circuit is designed to perform both primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation functions within a single device. The circuit includes mode selection logic that can switch between primary side regulation mode and secondary side regulation mode based on operating conditions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each regulation type while maintaining optimized performance for both modes

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

2Reliability

If different integrated circuits are used for primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation, then each circuit can be optimized for its specific function, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction-specific optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating both primary side and secondary side voltage regulation capabilities into a single integrated circuit, the design reduces the total number of components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested. This multi-functional approach maintains function-specific optimization through software or control logic while reducing per-unit manufacturing costs and simplifying the supply chain

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines previously separate primary side regulation circuitry and secondary side regulation circuitry into a unified integrated circuit device. This merging consolidates multiple functions into a single manufacturable unit, reducing assembly complexity and overall manufacturing cost while preserving the specialized performance characteristics of each regulation mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If different integrated circuits are used for primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation, then each circuit can be independently optimized, but system flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit optimizationVSAvoidapplication flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated circuit incorporates dynamic mode selection capability that allows it to adapt between primary side regulation and secondary side regulation based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic switching enables the single circuit to flexibly respond to different power application requirements, maintaining optimized performance while increasing system adaptability across varying load conditions and power levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10291132B2Integrated circuit with selection between primary side voltage regulation and secondary side voltage regulation
Publication Date: 2019.05.14 INFINEON TECH AUSTRIA AG
  • US10291132B2 patent drawing
  • US10291132B2 patent drawing
  • US10291132B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An integrated circuit may detect a pin voltage at a selector pin. The integrated circuit may compare the pin voltage to a threshold voltage. The integrated circuit may selectively perform primary side voltage regulation or secondary side voltage regulation, to regulate a voltage supplied to an electrical load coupled to the integrated circuit, based on comparing the pin voltage and the threshold voltage.