Multiphase Voltage Regulation With Global and Local Error Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiphase voltage regulator systems face challenges in maintaining constant output voltage due to manufacturing variations and misalignment tolerances, leading to mismatches between parallel signal pathways.
Innovation Solution
The system employs parallel signal pathways with global and local error correction mechanisms. The reference signal pathway generates a global error correction signal by comparing the output signal with a reference input signal, while regulator signal pathways provide local error correction signals to adjust energy storage element charging signals, compensating for mismatches caused by manufacturing variations and misalignment tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If parallel signal pathways are used in multiphase voltage regulator systems, then productivity and power distribution capability are improved, but manufacturing variations and misalignment tolerances cause mismatches between pathways, worsening output voltage stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through error amplifiers that continuously monitor output voltages from each parallel signal pathway and compare them against reference voltages. The error amplifiers generate correction signals that are fed back to adjust the switching control of each pathway, compensating for mismatches caused by manufacturing variations and maintaining stable aggregate output voltage despite individual pathway variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts operating parameters of individual parallel pathways by modifying duty cycles and switching frequencies based on detected voltage errors. The system changes the control parameters of each pathway independently to compensate for manufacturing variations, allowing the aggregate output to remain stable even when individual pathways have parameter deviations.
2Power
If parallel signal pathways are used to increase power capability, then device functionality is improved, but mismatches between pathways due to manufacturing tolerances increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the voltage regulator system into multiple independent parallel pathways, each with its own error amplifier and control logic. This segmentation allows each pathway to be designed and manufactured independently with standard tolerances, while the modular structure makes the overall system complexity manageable through repetition of standardized units rather than requiring complex integrated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple parallel signal pathways with individual error correction mechanisms into a unified voltage regulation system. The error amplifiers and control logic of individual pathways are merged through common reference voltage sources and aggregate output combining, creating a scalable system where complexity increases linearly with the number of pathways rather than exponentially.
3Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed to reduce production costs, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mismatches between parallel pathways worsen, affecting output precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service error correction where each parallel pathway's error amplifier autonomously detects and corrects its own voltage deviations caused by manufacturing tolerances. Each pathway independently adjusts its own switching control based on its own output voltage feedback, eliminating the need for external calibration or tight manufacturing tolerances while maintaining precise aggregate output voltage.
Data Source
AI summary
Multiphase voltage regulator systems are disclosed which include parallel signal pathways that functionally cooperate to provide an analog output signal at a constant, or substantially constant, voltage. The parallel signal pathways generate energy storage element charging signals to charge and/or discharge energy storage elements. Energy provided by discharging energy storage elements is thereafter combined to provide the analog output signal. Moreover, the parallel signal pathways compare one of the energy storage element charging signals with a reference input signal to provide a global error correction signal representing a difference, or error, between the reference input signal and the analog output signal. The parallel signal pathways thereafter adjust the energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the global error correction signal to lessen this difference or error. In some situations, manufacturing variations and/or misalignment tolerances present within the parallel signal pathways can cause mismatches between the parallel signal pathways. In these situations, the parallel signal pathways compare remaining energy storage element charging signals to the global error correction signal to provide local error correction signals to quantify these mismatches. Thereafter, the parallel signal pathways adjust the remaining energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the one or more local error correction signals to compensate for these mismatches.