Circuit Node Pre-Conditioning for Faster LDO State Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic circuitry, such as low dropout regulator (LDO) circuits, face limitations in transitioning between operating states due to their finite bandwidth, which is often constrained by capacitances within the circuit.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pre-conditioning circuitry that applies a voltage, current, or charge directly to a node of the circuit to reduce the magnitude of state changes required for operation changes, thereby reducing the time needed for transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional circuitry is used to transition between operating states, then the circuit operation is stable, but the transition time is prolonged due to finite bandwidth and capacitance limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-conditioning circuitry applies a preliminary voltage, current, or charge to the output node before the main switching action occurs. This preliminary action prepares the node by partially establishing the desired voltage level or discharging parasitic capacitances in advance, so that when the main switching event occurs, the transition to the new operating state requires less time and smaller voltage swing, thereby reducing the overall transition time while maintaining stability.
2Loss of time
If the circuit bandwidth is increased to reduce transition time, then the transition speed improves, but the circuit becomes more complex and susceptible to noise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the bandwidth of the main regulator circuit, the invention adds a separate pre-conditioning stage that operates independently. This stage applies preliminary voltage, current, or charge to the output node before the main switching action. By separating the pre-conditioning function from the main regulation function, the circuit achieves faster transitions without significantly increasing the complexity or bandwidth requirements of the core regulator, thus avoiding noise and stability issues associated with high-bandwidth designs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If larger capacitors are used to stabilize output voltage, then the voltage stability improves, but the transition response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-conditioning circuitry performs preliminary charging or discharging of the output node and associated capacitors before the main switching event. By establishing part of the required voltage change in advance or by pre-discharging parasitic capacitances, the main regulator does not need to drive large current spikes through the output capacitors during transitions. This allows the use of larger stabilizing capacitors while maintaining fast response times, as the capacitors are not subjected to abrupt large-current transients that would slow down the response.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage transition process is segmented into two distinct phases: a pre-conditioning phase that handles the preliminary voltage adjustment or parasitic capacitance discharge, and a main regulation phase that completes the transition. This segmentation allows the output capacitors to remain large for stability while the pre-conditioning stage handles the fast transient response, effectively decoupling the stability function from the speed function.
Data Source
AI summary
Pre-conditioning circuitry for pre-conditioning a node of a circuit to support a change in operation of the circuit, wherein the circuit is operative to change a state of the node to effect the change in operation of the circuit, and wherein the pre-conditioning circuitry is configured to apply a voltage, current or charge directly to the node to reduce the magnitude of the change to the state of the node required by the circuit to achieve the change in operation of the circuit.