Multi-Output Voltage Regulation Loop for SoC Power Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic systems require multiple power supply voltage outputs, which is inefficient in terms of silicon area and current consumption, especially in integrated systems like System-On-Chip (SOC), as they need to replicate power supply architectures for each sub-block, leading to increased space and power usage.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system with a single differential amplifier and regulation loop using multiple transistors and variable resistors to generate multiple power supply output voltages, where each sub-block is supplied with its required voltage, reducing the need for multiple power supply units and minimizing silicon area and current consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple power supply units are used to supply different voltages to different sub-blocks, then each sub-block receives its required voltage, but the silicon area and current consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage supply accuracyVSAvoidsilicon area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple power supply units into a single power supply unit with multiple output terminals. Each terminal is connected to a different sub-block through a transistor, allowing one power supply unit to provide multiple different voltages to multiple sub-blocks simultaneously, thereby reducing the total silicon area while maintaining voltage supply accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single power supply unit is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple sub-blocks with different voltage requirements. By using transistors as voltage control elements, the same power supply unit can dynamically adjust and provide different voltage levels to different sub-blocks, achieving universal voltage supply without requiring separate dedicated power supply units for each sub-block

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple power supply units are replicated for each sub-block, then each sub-block gets its required voltage, but the current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage supply accuracyVSAvoidcurrent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple power supply units into one shared unit that serves all sub-blocks. The transistors connected to each output terminal act as voltage regulators, allowing the single power supply unit to provide precise voltage control to multiple sub-blocks simultaneously, thereby reducing total current consumption while maintaining voltage supply accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transistors serve as intermediary elements between the single power supply unit and the multiple sub-blocks. Each transistor regulates the voltage from the common power supply to the appropriate level for its connected sub-block, enabling precise voltage control without requiring multiple separate power supply units, thus reducing overall current consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If a single power supply unit with multiple outputs is used, then silicon area and current consumption are reduced, but the complexity of voltage regulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilicon areaVSAvoidregulation loop complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the voltage regulation function into individual transistor-controlled paths for each sub-block. Each transistor and its associated regulation loop operate independently to control the voltage for its specific sub-block, allowing the system to maintain low overall complexity while providing multiple different voltages from a single power supply unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If multiple power supply units are used, then voltage regulation is simplified for each unit, but the overall system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregulation loop simplicityVSAvoidsilicon area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple simple regulation loops into a single integrated system where one power supply unit shares multiple output terminals, each with its own transistor-based regulation. This approach maintains the simplicity of individual regulation loops while achieving compact integration, reducing silicon area without significantly increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11880249B2Electronic system for generating multiple power supply output voltages with one regulation loop

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 THALES DIS FRANCE SA

AI summary

Provided is a an electronic system (1) comprising a plurality of sub blocks (21, 22, . . . ), a differential amplifier (3), a voltage regulation loop comprising a first transistor (40) and a variable resistor (5), and a plurality of additional transistors (41, 42, . . . ). The input reference voltage (VRF) and the variable resistor are configured such that a first sub block (21) is supplied with its required power supply output voltage (VDD1) by the transistor to which it is connected. The amplifier is configured to output on each of its outputs a power supply reference voltage (VG1, VG2 . . . ) such that each sub block (22, . . . ) other than the first sub block is supplied with its required power supply output voltage (VDD2 . . . ) by the transistor to which it is connected.