Multiphase Power Supply Single Comparator Phase Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Three-level multiphase power supply converters lack a separate error correction circuit, leading to difficulties in accurately balancing currents between phases, resulting in increased ripple voltage and efficiency deterioration due to current mismatches.
Innovation Solution
A multiphase power supply system with a duty controller using a single comparator to compare error voltage with sawtooth wave signals of different phases, generating duty control signals to manage phase mismatches, and a sawtooth wave generator to calibrate these signals, ensuring accurate phase balancing and reduced ripple.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a three-level multiphase converter structure is used to increase effective switching frequency and reduce ripple voltage, then switching efficiency and bandwidth are improved, but current balance between phases deteriorates due to lack of separate error correction circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the error correction function with the multiphase converter by integrating a current balance control circuit that shares the same structural framework as the power conversion circuit. The control circuit monitors phase currents and adjusts duty cycles to maintain current balance, merging the correction function into the existing converter structure rather than adding a separate correction system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where phase current detectors monitor the current in each phase and feed this information back to the control circuit. The control circuit compares the currents and adjusts the duty cycles of individual phases to maintain balance, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously corrects current imbalances.
2Loss of energy
If a three-level multiphase converter structure is used to improve efficiency and follow rapid input envelope, then switching performance is enhanced, but output voltage ripple increases due to current mismatch between phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control where voltage ripple detectors monitor the output voltage and feed this information back to the control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the duty cycles of the multiphase converter to minimize voltage ripple while maintaining high efficiency operation, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts operating parameters such as duty cycle and switching frequency based on load conditions and voltage ripple measurements. By changing these parameters in real-time, the system maintains high efficiency while minimizing output voltage ripple across different operating conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate error correction circuits are added to correct current mismatch, then current balance improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the error correction function with the main converter control circuitry. The current balance control is integrated into the existing pulse width modulation (PWM) control structure, sharing common components such as the controller and switching elements, thereby avoiding the need for completely separate correction circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: power conversion control, current balance maintenance, and voltage ripple suppression. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated separate circuits for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining all required performance characteristics.
4Measurement precision
If multiple comparators are used to control multiple phases, then phase control precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple phase control functions into a single comparator circuit by implementing sequential comparison. The comparator sequentially compares reference voltages with feedback signals from each phase, generating control signals for multiple phases using one comparator instead of requiring separate comparators for each phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic sequential control where the single comparator operates in a time-multiplexed manner, sequentially processing each phase during different time intervals within each switching period. This periodic action allows one comparator to effectively control multiple phases with the same precision that multiple comparators would provide, but with reduced component count.
Data Source
AI summary
A multiphase power supply includes a multiphase converter including first and second converters having differing operating phases, each of the first and second converters configured to convert input power into driving power, and transmit the driving power to a power amplifier, a detector configured to detect a voltage based on the driving power, and a duty controller configured to compare an error voltage between an envelope signal of an input signal input into the power amplifier and the detected voltage and sawtooth wave signals having different phases from each other to generate duty control signals, wherein the duty controller compares the error voltage and the sawtooth wave signals with each other using a single comparator.