Power Converter Current Sampling Without Sense Resistors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power converter circuits in computer systems face challenges in accurately measuring current delivery in real-time without using sense resistors, which limits bandwidth and complicates analysis of current load changes due to power state transitions or software execution.
Innovation Solution
The power converter circuit employs a phase circuit to generate demand current by comparing the voltage level of a regulated power supply node with a reference voltage, digitizes this demand current to create current samples, and stores them in memory. A sample circuit generates timestamp information for specific events, allowing for real-time analysis and adjustment of operating parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sense resistors are used to measure current delivery, then current measurement capability is provided, but bandwidth is limited and analysis of current load changes is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the current measurement function from the traditional sense resistor approach and implements it through a digital sampling system. The phase circuit generates demand current that is digitized and stored in memory, separating the measurement function from power delivery to achieve both high bandwidth and accurate measurement without the limitations of sense resistors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical measurement system (sense resistors) with a digital sampling and storage system. By using phase circuits to generate demand current, analog-to-digital conversion, and memory storage, the system substitutes continuous electrical measurement with discrete digital sampling, achieving higher bandwidth and easier analysis of current load changes.
2Measurement precision
If sense resistors are used to measure current delivery, then current measurement capability is provided, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the power delivery path by using a separate phase circuit to generate demand current. This separation eliminates the need for sense resistors in the power path, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining measurement capability through digital sampling and memory storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the demand current signal through sampling and storage in memory. Instead of physically measuring current through sense resistors, the system captures and stores digital representations of the current demand, simplifying the physical circuit while enabling comprehensive analysis through data processing.
3Loss of information
If real-time current sampling and storage is implemented, then analysis of current delivery is improved, but memory requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial sampling of current demand by capturing representative samples at specific intervals rather than continuous measurement. This approach provides sufficient information for analyzing current delivery and load changes while using minimal memory resources, avoiding the need to store every instantaneous value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary digitization and storage of demand current samples in memory during operation. By preparing and storing this data in advance, the system enables efficient real-time analysis of current delivery without requiring complex real-time processing, reducing both memory requirements and computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power converter circuit included in a computer system may include a phase circuit and a sample circuit. The phase circuit compares a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage to generate a demand current that is used to adjust the voltage level of the regulated power supply node. The phase circuit also digitizes the demand current and stores the resultant bit stream in a memory circuit. The sample circuit generates timestamp information that points to particular storage locations in the memory circuit that correspond to trigger events, allowing the operation of the power converter circuit to be analyzed during different circumstances as well as to adjust operating parameters of the power converter circuit.