Power Bus Voltage Drop Compensation via Sampled Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-ideal connections between power converters and loads introduce voltage drops due to resistance, which existing methods struggle to compensate for effectively, often requiring high bandwidth connections and inaccurate resistance calculations.
Innovation Solution
A power conversion system that measures load and output voltages, current, and determines bus resistance to send control signals to power conversion stages, incorporating a negative output resistance component to compensate for bus resistance, thereby maintaining desired load voltage with reduced bandwidth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional negative feedback is used to compensate for voltage drops, then voltage regulation accuracy is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of bus resistance characteristics and pre-calculates compensation values before voltage drops occur. By determining the bus resistance representation in advance and using it to predict voltage drops, the system can proactively adjust output voltage to compensate for upcoming voltage drops, eliminating the need for high-bandwidth real-time feedback connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation layer that measures bus resistance separately and uses it as a mediator to compute compensation values. This intermediary representation of bus resistance allows the system to decouple the voltage regulation function from high-bandwidth feedback requirements, as the resistance measurement can be performed at lower bandwidth while still enabling accurate compensation.
2Measurement precision
If traditional negative feedback is used to compensate for voltage drops, then voltage regulation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bus resistance measurement and compensation calculation as separate, independent functions from the main voltage regulation feedback loop. By taking out the resistance determination as a distinct measurement function and using it to generate compensation values, the system reduces the complexity of the main control path while maintaining accurate voltage regulation through the extracted resistance information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-characterization of the bus resistance and uses this self-determined information to automatically compensate for voltage drops. By having the system measure and utilize its own bus resistance characteristics, it eliminates the need for external calibration or complex lookup tables, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accuracy.
3Device complexity
If resistance correction circuitry is provided based on expected resistance, then compensation is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate resistance calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring the actual bus resistance characteristics and using these measured values to adjust compensation parameters. The system feeds back the determined bus resistance representation to the compensation mechanism, ensuring that the compensation values are based on actual measured resistance rather than expected or nominal values, thereby maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the compensation parameters based on measured bus resistance values. By adjusting the compensation values according to the actual resistance characteristics determined through measurement, the system adapts to varying bus conditions and maintains accurate compensation without requiring complex fixed circuitry for all possible resistance scenarios.
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 system effectively compensates for voltage drops caused by bus resistance, maintaining stable load voltage while reducing the need for high bandwidth connections and improving accuracy in resistance calculations.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a first load voltage at or near the first load, measuring a first output voltage at or near the first output, and measuring a first current flowing between the first output and the first load through the first power bus. The method additionally includes determining a representation of the first bus resistance as a function of the measuring
Implementation Method 2
adjusting, in response to the control signal, the first power conversion stage to include a negative output resistance component configured to compensate for the first bus resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A power system includes a power conversion stage that receives power from an input source and delivers power to a load via a power distribution bus. The power distribution bus may include a DC transformer such as a fixed ratio bus converter or VTM having an equivalent series resistance. A control system samples the voltage delivered by the power conversion stage at a location close to the output of the power conversion stage, and the load voltage at a location close to the load. The samples may be synchronized by means of a data bus that provides communication between a control device and an output monitor. Synchronization may be accomplished within a sampling period that is short relative to changes in the voltages and currents. Each set of samples may be used to determine a value of the bus resistance. Multiple samples may be averaged to improve accuracy in the determination. The determined bus resistance, including the equivalent series resistance of any bus converter, may be used to introduce a negative resistance characteristic in the power conversion stage as a way of compensating for the actual bus resistance without resorting to full bandwidth feedback from the load.