Optically Coupled Power Supply Circuit for Pure, Stable Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply circuits are susceptible to voltage fluctuations, electromagnetic interference, and impure current output, which can affect the normal operation of electronic circuits.

Innovation Solution

A power supply circuit design incorporating a device Q1, a light-emitting element LD, and a receiving element BT, where the light-emitting element provides optical signals to the receiving element, which are amplified by device Q1, ensuring the output current's purity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a power supply circuit integrates a linear regulator and a switching regulator, then the power supply can operate in both linear and switching modes to improve efficiency, but the circuit complexity increases due to multiple regulators and control logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a linear regulator and a switching regulator into a single integrated power supply circuit. The linear regulator includes a first power supply terminal, a first output terminal, and a first control terminal, while the switching regulator includes a second power supply terminal, a second output terminal, and a second control terminal. Both regulators share common components such as the reference voltage generation unit, error amplification unit, and compensation capacitance, allowing the circuit to operate in either linear or switching mode depending on the load requirements, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining manageable complexity through shared functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of energy

If the power supply uses switching regulator mode for high efficiency, then energy loss decreases, but output voltage ripple and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy lossVSAvoidoutput voltage ripple
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an error amplification unit that acts as an intermediary between the output voltage detection and the switching control. The error amplification unit compares the actual output voltage with the reference voltage and generates an error signal that drives the switching regulator. This intermediary mechanism allows the switching regulator to maintain high efficiency while reducing output voltage ripple by providing precise voltage regulation through feedback control, thereby mitigating the harmful effects of switching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the power supply uses linear regulator mode for low noise, then output voltage ripple decreases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage rippleVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic power supply circuit that can switch between linear regulator mode and switching regulator mode based on real-time load conditions. The control logic monitors the load current and automatically selects the appropriate regulation mode: linear mode is activated when low noise is required (e.g., during light load or sensitive applications), while switching mode is activated when high efficiency is needed (e.g., during heavy load). This dynamic adaptation allows the circuit to optimize the trade-off between noise and power consumption depending on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4475417B1Power supply circuit
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SEMITRI PTY LTD
  • EP4475417B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4475417B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4475417B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a power supply circuit comprising a device, of which a second electrode and a third electrode are used to form a first series circuit with a load requiring for power supply; the power supply circuit further comprises a light-emitting element and a receiving element, which is a photoelectric converting element. The light-emitting element provides the receiving element, which is connected to a first electrode of the device, with optical signals. The electrical signals produced by the receiving element are amplified by the device operating in its amplification region and provided to the load. The present invention is reasonable in design, having the advantage of high purity of output current (voltage).