Inductor-Based Energy Tracking Circuit for Current Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring energy consumption in electronic devices face challenges in accurately tracking wide ranges of current magnitudes and dynamic changes without affecting the device's functionality, often requiring complex and error-prone circuitry.
Innovation Solution
A switched mode energy tracking circuitry using switching elements, inductors, and a control logic stage to generate ON-time pulses, which allows for precise energy transfer and measurement without distorting the output voltage, enabling accurate power measurement across a wide range of currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a shunt device or shunt resistor is used for current measurement, then current measurement is achieved, but very high precision analogue to digital converters are required and voltage drop is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary inductor between the power supply and the device under test. This inductor acts as a mediator that converts current measurement into voltage measurement through its inductive property (V=Ldi/dt), allowing the use of standard voltage measurement circuits rather than high-precision current-to-digital converters. The inductor temporarily stores energy and releases it, enabling measurement without direct current sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct electrical measurement system (shunt resistor + high-precision ADC) with an indirect measurement system using electromagnetic induction principles. Instead of measuring current directly through resistive voltage drop, the system uses the inductor's electromagnetic property to transform the measurement problem into a voltage integration task that can be handled by standard circuits.
2Measurement precision
If a shunt device is used for power measurement, then current measurement is achieved, but voltage drop is generated and compensation circuitry is required
Solution Approach 1:
The inductor serves as an intermediary element that prevents direct contact between the measurement circuit and the power supply, eliminating the voltage drop issue. By measuring the voltage across the inductor and integrating it over time, the system obtains power consumption data without introducing resistive voltage drops that would affect the device under test.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If direct load compensation is attempted, then voltage drop compensation is achieved, but measurement range adaptation is required and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the compensation problem entirely from the measurement system by using an inductor-based approach. Instead of trying to compensate for voltage drops within the measurement circuit, the system removes the source of voltage drops by not using resistive shunt devices, thereby eliminating the need for complex compensation circuitry and range adaptation.
4Speed
If a buffer capacitor is coupled to the target side, then current delivery is immediate, but the capacitor needs recharging and affects the true current response
Solution Approach 1:
The inductor acts as an intermediary energy storage element that smooths current delivery without the rapid discharge-recharge cycles of capacitors. The inductor's property of opposing changes in current (back-EMF) provides natural current regulation, delivering current smoothly without the abrupt transitions that would distort measurement readings.
5Measurement precision
If a current mirror is used, then distortion from target capacitor is minimized, but poor FET pairing is required and huge current magnitude tracking is not capable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex current mirror system with FETs with an inductor-based measurement system. This substitution eliminates the need for precise FET matching and high-speed switching, using instead the passive inductive property to achieve accurate measurement across wide current ranges without active component pairing requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for accurate and efficient energy consumption measurement across a wide range of current magnitudes with reduced distortion and error, maintaining the device's functionality and simplifying the measurement process.
Implementation Method 1
The switched mode circuit comprises one of more switching elements, one or more inductors... The switching element is configured to switch a current through the inductor... to transfer energy form a primary energy source, e.g. power supply, to the output of the energy tracking system
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant ON-time.