Multi-Core Phase Control for High-Voltage DC Converters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-phase converters face limitations in controlling an increasing number of phases due to resource constraints of microcontrollers, leading to delayed control start points and difficulty in securing control cycles, which affects feedback control performance and passive component reduction.
Innovation Solution
A control system for multi-phase converters that utilizes a microcontroller with multiple cores, each controlling phases with specific phase differences, allowing for efficient AD sampling and analog-to-digital conversion to secure control cycles and reduce time delays, enabling control of a larger number of phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the number of phases is increased to reduce current ripple and passive element size, then voltage ripple reduction and energy efficiency improvement are achieved, but microcontroller resource occupancy increases and control cycle security becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the microcontroller into multiple independent cores, where each core is responsible for controlling specific phases. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple phases simultaneously, preventing resource bottlenecks and enabling scalable phase control without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-core sequential control to multi-core parallel control, adding a dimensional aspect to the control architecture. This enables simultaneous execution of control algorithms for multiple phases, effectively resolving the resource occupancy issue while maintaining high-phase control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple controllers are operated to control more phases, then phase control capability is improved, but executable time of each controller decreases causing control start point delay
Solution Approach 1:
Each controller core is assigned to manage specific phases, creating independent execution units. This segmentation ensures that each controller has dedicated executable time without being blocked by other phase controls, eliminating start point delays while maintaining versatile multi-phase control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-core architecture enables continuous control execution across all phases simultaneously, rather than sequential execution with idle periods. Each core continuously manages its assigned phases without interruption, ensuring timely control start points and eliminating delays.
3Volume of stationary object
If the number of phases is increased to reduce passive component size, then inductor and capacitor size are reduced, but feedback control performance deteriorates due to control cycle insecurity
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of control functions across multiple cores ensures that each phase receives dedicated processing attention, maintaining precise feedback control timing even as the number of phases increases. This prevents control cycle insecurity and preserves feedback control performance while enabling high-phase configurations for reduced component size.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for multi-phase control of a high-voltage converter includes: a multi-phase converter including inputs and outputs each connected in parallel to convert a direct current (DC) input voltage into a DC output voltage of a different level, and having different phases; and a microcontroller outputting a control signal, which is a PWM signal, to boost or lower the DC input voltage of the multi-phase converter to the DC output voltage of a different level, wherein the microcontroller includes at least one core, and the core includes: a first controller controlling two phases of the multi-phase converter having a phase difference of 180 degrees; and a second controller controlling two different phases of the multi-phase converter having a phase difference of 180 degrees and having a predetermined phase difference from the two phases of the first controller.