PCB Power Management Circuit with Multi-Node Voltage Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance ICs with higher power consumption on printed circuit boards (PCBs) experience significant IR drop variations due to a single power management integrated circuit (PMIC) supply, making accurate compensation challenging.
Innovation Solution
A power management circuit comprising a voltage sensing circuit and a supply voltage adjusting circuit that senses voltages at multiple nodes on the PCB and adjusts the supply voltage to the power plane based on the sensing results, ensuring accurate compensation of IR drops, especially for ICs with higher power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single PMIC is used to supply voltage to multiple ICs/components, then device complexity is reduced, but IR drop variation becomes significant for high-power ICs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power management function into two parts: a single PMIC for voltage generation and a voltage sensing circuit for measurement and feedback. This segmentation allows the PMIC to remain simple while adding sensing capability to compensate for IR drop, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and voltage accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the voltage sensing circuit continuously monitors voltages at multiple nodes and feeds this information back to adjust the supply voltage. This feedback loop enables dynamic compensation for IR drop variations without increasing PMIC complexity, as the adjustment is based on real-time sensing data.
2Reliability
If supply voltage is increased to compensate for IR drop, then voltage stability at distant nodes is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic voltage adjustment where the supply voltage is continuously adapted based on real-time sensing results from multiple nodes. Instead of using a fixed elevated voltage, the system dynamically adjusts the voltage level to match actual needs, ensuring stability when required while minimizing power consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter dynamically based on sensed conditions. The supply voltage is adjusted according to the sensed voltage levels at different nodes, allowing the system to maintain voltage stability at distant nodes only when necessary, thereby avoiding continuous power consumption increase.
3Measurement precision
If voltage sensing is performed at multiple nodes, then IR drop measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sensing circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: sensing voltages at multiple nodes, determining IR drop conditions, and providing feedback for voltage adjustment. This multi-functionality allows accurate IR drop measurement without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single sensing circuit handles multiple measurement tasks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively compensates IR drops across the PCB, ensuring stable voltage supply to high-power ICs, thereby improving performance and reliability by dynamically adjusting the supply voltage based on real-time sensing data.
Implementation Method 1
IR drop (i.e. voltage drop) variation among ICs/components
Data Source
AI summary
A power management circuit includes a voltage sensing circuit and a supply voltage adjusting circuit. The voltage sensing circuit is arranged for sensing a plurality of voltages respectively of a plurality of nodes of a PCB to generate a sensing result. The supply voltage adjusting circuit is coupled to the voltage sensing circuit, and is arranged for determining a voltage level of a supply voltage supplied to a power plane of the PCB by referring to the sensing result.