Multi-Output Voltage Regulator Circuit for Stable Block Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor regulators face challenges in stably supplying power supply voltages to multiple circuit blocks due to varying feedback voltages, which leads to instability in voltage generation across different blocks.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with multiple voltage output circuits and a differential circuit that includes primary and secondary side transistors, along with a current mirror circuit, where each primary side transistor receives feedback voltages and flows individual currents, and a secondary side transistor receives a reference voltage, allowing for stable voltage generation by coping with current variations across circuit blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single regulator supplies power supply voltage to multiple circuit blocks via common wiring, then device complexity is reduced, but voltage stability deteriorates due to wiring resistance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single regulator into multiple independent voltage output circuits (first voltage output circuit, second voltage output circuit, etc.), each capable of independently supplying voltage to different circuit blocks. This segmentation allows each circuit to have dedicated wiring paths, eliminating the voltage stability issues caused by common wiring resistance while maintaining overall system integration.
2Reliability
If buffer amplifiers and power supply output terminals are disposed for each circuit block to reduce wiring resistance impact, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates voltage output circuits that serve multiple functions: they act as both buffer amplifiers for voltage stabilization and as power supply output terminals for distributing voltage to multiple circuit blocks. Each voltage output circuit can supply voltage to multiple circuit blocks while maintaining stability, thus achieving the benefits of dedicated buffering without the complexity of separate buffer amplifiers for each block.
3Device complexity
If feedback voltages from multiple circuit blocks are supplied to a current mirror circuit with one primary side transistor, then device complexity is reduced, but voltage generation stability deteriorates due to current variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the current mirror circuit into multiple primary side transistors (first primary side transistor, second primary side transistor, etc.), with each transistor dedicated to receiving feedback voltage from a specific circuit block. This segmentation allows each transistor to independently handle current variations from its corresponding block, maintaining voltage generation stability while keeping the overall circuit structure integrated and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes first to N-th voltage output circuits each outputting an output voltage and outputs a feedback voltage having a voltage value corresponding to the output voltage, and a differential circuit including first to N-th primary side transistors to which N feedback voltages are input and that individually flow first to N-th currents through a first node, a secondary side transistor that flows a reference current corresponding to a reference voltage through the first node, and a current mirror circuit as an active load. The current mirror circuit includes first to N-th primary side load transistors individually coupled in cascade to the first to N-th primary side transistors, a secondary side load transistor coupled in cascade to the secondary side transistor and generates a voltage at a connection point between the secondary side transistor and the secondary side load transistor as a control voltage.