Offset-Controlled Voltage Regulator Without Divider Resistors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional voltage regulators have high power consumption and occupy a large area due to the use of voltage dividing resistors, which affects the stability and efficiency of the power supply.

Innovation Solution

The voltage regulator incorporates an operational amplifier and an offset voltage control module with multiple stages of transistor-based regulation branches connected in parallel, allowing for precise control of the offset voltage to regulate the output voltage, reducing power consumption and area requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If voltage dividing resistors are used in the conventional voltage regulator, then the output voltage can be regulated, but the power consumption and area occupied increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidarea occupied
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the regulation mechanism from resistive voltage division to transistor-based current control. By using transistors with controlled current flow instead of resistors with fixed voltage division, the system achieves voltage regulation with significantly lower power consumption and smaller area occupation, as transistors can operate at lower currents while providing equivalent or superior control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the passive resistive mechanism with an active transistor-based electronic control mechanism. This replacement transitions from a purely resistive voltage division system to one utilizing controlled current flow through transistors, enabling more efficient power consumption and reduced area requirements while maintaining voltage regulation functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If voltage dividing resistors are used in the conventional voltage regulator, then the output voltage can be regulated, but the stability and efficiency of the power supply are affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability and efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control through the operational amplifier that continuously monitors the output voltage and adjusts the transistor gate voltages accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances the stability and efficiency of the power supply by dynamically compensating for variations and maintaining precise voltage regulation, while the transistor-based system consumes less power compared to resistive division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters from high-power resistive voltage division to low-power transistor current control. By utilizing the voltage-controlled current characteristics of transistors, the system achieves equivalent voltage regulation with improved stability and efficiency while consuming significantly less power, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10936001B2Voltage regulator and power supply
Publication Date: 2021.03.02 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • US10936001B2 patent drawing
  • US10936001B2 patent drawing
  • US10936001B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A voltage regulator and a power supply are provided. The voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier and an offset voltage control module. The offset voltage control module includes one or more stages of regulation branches connected in parallel, and controls an offset voltage of the operational amplifier with the one or more stages of regulation branches to regulate the output voltage. The offset voltage control module also includes a bandgap reference generation circuit, configured to generate a reference voltage irrelevant to a temperature coefficient that is received by the operational amplifier from the input terminal, wherein the bandgap reference generation circuit comprises at least one of: a ΔVGS-based bandgap reference generation circuit having a full CMOS reference offset structure, a PTAT unit-based and VGS-based bandgap reference generation circuit having a full CMOS reference offset structure, and a PTAT unit-based and BJT-based bandgap reference generation circuit having a complementary structure.