Phase Reconfigurable Switching Power Supply Ripple Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Switching power supplies using inductive elements face a trade-off between higher inductances that reduce ripple currents and lower inductances that increase slew rates, leading to noise in power supply output signals.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power supply switching circuitry with two inductive elements, where the first inductive element is coupled between the power supply switching circuitry and the power supply output, and the second inductive element is coupled between the power supply switching circuitry and the power supply output, allowing for multiple configurations through hardware configurations, operating mode selection, and phasing between switching output signals to optimize the balance between ripple currents and slew rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If higher inductances are used in the power supply, then ripple currents are reduced, but slew rates of the power supply output signals decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is divided into multiple independent switching outputs, each with its own inductive element. By segmenting the single power supply into multiple phases, the patent achieves both reduced ripple currents (through higher effective inductance) and maintained slew rates (through parallel switching operations)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phase-shifted periodic switching operations across multiple switching outputs. Each output operates at the same frequency but with different phase angles, creating a combined effect that reduces ripple while maintaining high slew rates through the constructive interference of phased signals
2Speed
If lower inductances are used in the power supply, then slew rates of the power supply output signals increase, but ripple currents increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple switching outputs with lower individual inductances are merged into a single combined power supply output. The merging of these parallel paths with phase-shifted operations achieves high slew rates while the combined effect reduces ripple currents through destructive interference of the ripple components
3Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple inductive elements are used with different configurations, then the trade-off between ripple currents and slew rates can be optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal control architecture that manages multiple switching outputs through a single controller. This multi-functional approach allows the same control circuitry to optimize multiple inductive elements simultaneously, reducing noise while avoiding proportional increases in device complexity through efficient resource sharing
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of circuitry, which includes power supply switching circuitry and a first inductive element, are disclosed. The power supply switching circuitry has a first switching output and a second switching output. The first inductive element is coupled between the first switching output and a power supply output. The power supply switching circuitry operates in one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode. During the first operating mode, the first switching output is voltage compatible with the second switching output. During the second operating mode, the first switching output is allowed to be voltage incompatible with the second switching output.