Integrated Voltage Regulator Configurable Output for Vehicle Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage regulators for personal protection systems in vehicles are highly fault-susceptible due to external voltage dividers, making it difficult to detect and correct faults, which can result in incorrect and potentially damaging output voltages, especially in safety-critical systems.
Innovation Solution
An integrated regulator that allows flexible selection of output voltage through configuration signals, eliminating the need for external voltage dividers and additional regulators, by using a pin configuration to select between predefined reference or feedback signals, ensuring robustness and accurate voltage generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external voltage dividers are used to adjust output voltage, then output voltage can be varied, but fault susceptibility increases and fault detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage division function from external components and integrates it into the regulator chip itself. The configuration pins internally select between different voltage division ratios (e.g., 1:1, 2:1, 3:1) without requiring external voltage divider resistors, thereby eliminating the fault susceptibility associated with external components while maintaining output voltage adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the voltage regulation function and voltage division function into a single integrated regulator unit. The configuration pins work in conjunction with internal voltage dividers to provide multiple output voltage levels (e.g., 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V) from a single chip, combining what were previously separate external components into one reliable integrated solution.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate regulators are used for different voltage values, then each voltage can be precisely regulated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal regulator design where a single regulator chip can provide multiple output voltage levels (e.g., 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V) by selecting different configuration pin states. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple separate regulator variants while maintaining precise voltage regulation through internal voltage dividers and feedback control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability through configuration pins that allow the regulator to adapt its output voltage during system initialization or operation. The regulator can switch between different voltage division ratios and output levels dynamically, providing the flexibility previously requiring multiple static regulator variants while maintaining precise regulation through feedback control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration pins are used for voltage selection, then flexibility is improved, but fault detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the regulator monitors its own configuration pin states and output voltage levels. The feedback control circuit continuously compares the actual output voltage with the expected voltage based on configuration pin settings, enabling automatic detection of configuration faults or incorrect pin states without requiring external diagnostic equipment.
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
The integrated regulator provides robust and accurate voltage regulation, capable of handling single faults and ensuring correct output voltage selection at system initialization, enhancing safety and compatibility with various microcontrollers, particularly in safety-critical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a regulating element T that converts an input signal into an output signal with a defined value
Implementation Method 2
a control application circuit that applies control to the regulating element T on the basis of a feedback signal in order to generate the output signal with the defined value
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated regulator, in particular a voltage regulator, for a personal protection arrangement in a vehicle, includes a regulating element that converts an input signal into an output signal having a defined value, and a control application circuit that applies control to the regulating element to generate the output signal having the defined value. The control application circuit outputs the output signal via the regulating element with at least two different selectable values as a function of a specifying signal, such that for selection of the value of the output signal, a configuration circuit receives at least one configuration signal and, as a function of a configuration ascertained in the context of evaluation, selects one of at least two different specifying signals and applies it to the control application circuit to output the output signal having the selected value.