Offset-Controlled Voltage Regulator for Low-Standby Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage regulators have high power consumption and occupy a large area due to the use of voltage dividing resistors, especially when the electronic system is in a standby state with low load current.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator with an operational amplifier and an offset voltage control module using transistor-based regulation branches connected in parallel, which reduces power consumption and area requirements by controlling the offset voltage to regulate the output voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If voltage dividing resistors are used to regulate output voltage, then voltage regulation is achieved, but power consumption increases and area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the regulation element from resistor to transistor, utilizing the transistor's variable resistance characteristic controlled by gate voltage to regulate output voltage, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the passive resistor-based voltage division mechanism with an active transistor-based regulation mechanism, where the transistor's electrical control特性 enables more efficient power consumption with comparable or superior regulation performance
2Reliability
If voltage dividing resistors are used to regulate output voltage, then voltage regulation is achieved, but area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the regulation element from resistor to transistor, utilizing the transistor's variable resistance characteristic controlled by gate voltage to regulate output voltage, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the passive resistor-based voltage division mechanism with an active transistor-based regulation mechanism, where the transistor's electrical control特性 enables more efficient power consumption with comparable or superior regulation performance
3Reliability
If conventional voltage regulator structure is used, then voltage regulation is achieved, but power consumption is high in standby state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control of the transistor's gate voltage to adjust its resistance, enabling the regulator to adapt its power consumption to the actual load conditions, thereby reducing standby power consumption while maintaining regulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the regulation element from resistor to transistor, utilizing the transistor's variable resistance characteristic controlled by gate voltage to regulate output voltage, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining regulation capability
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide a voltage regulator and a power supply. The voltage regulator includes an operational amplifier and an offset voltage control module. The operational amplifier includes an input terminal and an output terminal, and is configured to generate an output voltage to be output from the output terminal based on a reference voltage received from the input terminal. The offset voltage control module includes one stage of regulation branch or more stages of regulation branches connected in parallel, and is configured to control an offset voltage of the operational amplifier based on selection of the regulation branch to regulate the output voltage. Since each stage of regulation branch in the offset voltage control module is based on a transistor structure, as compared with the voltage dividing resistor in the related art, the transistor has lower power consumption, and thus power consumption of the voltage regulator is lowered.