Power Converter Pulse Counting for Accurate Load Power Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power consumption evaluation methods require detection resistors, which can lead to inaccurate results due to resistance value inaccuracies and require complex circuitry for dynamic resistance adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A power consumption evaluation device and method that uses a first power converter with a power switch, a counter, and a controller to evaluate power consumption by counting pulses of a control signal and generating an evaluation result proportional to the count value, eliminating the need for detection resistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detection resistor is used to measure power consumption, then the power consumption can be evaluated, but the evaluation accuracy is affected by resistance value inaccuracies and the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the traditional detection resistor approach and relocates it to the controller. The controller directly counts the switching operations of the power switch to determine power consumption, eliminating the need for detection resistors and their associated inaccuracies. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the source of measurement error while simplifying the overall circuit architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical measurement system (detection resistors and voltage measurement circuits) with a digital counting system. Instead of measuring voltage drops across resistors, the controller counts the number of switching operations of the power switch. This substitution eliminates the need for physical detection components and their inherent inaccuracies, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the resistance value of the detection resistor is adjusted dynamically to respond to multiple power modes, then the measurement range is improved, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the dynamic resistance adjustment circuitry entirely by extracting the measurement function to the controller. The controller adapts to different power modes by counting switching operations at different frequencies, eliminating the need for physical resistance adjustment mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by achieving power mode adaptability through software/control logic rather than hardware modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from voltage (which requires resistance adjustment) to switching operation count. The controller counts the number of times the power switch operates within a measurement period, and this count directly reflects power consumption regardless of the absolute current level. This parameter change enables adaptability across multiple power modes without requiring circuit modification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a detection resistor with small resistance value is used, then the power consumption measurement range is improved, but the signal input to ADC becomes too small resulting in insufficient accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the voltage-based measurement system (which suffers from signal strength limitations) with a digital counting system. The controller counts switching operations directly, generating a digital signal whose magnitude is independent of the current amplitude. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving wide current measurement range without sacrificing accuracy, as the count value scales linearly with power consumption regardless of signal strength.
4Productivity
If multiple detection resistors are used for multiple functional circuit blocks, then the power consumption of each block can be evaluated, but the accuracy is affected by the inaccuracy of multiple detection resistors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power consumption measurement function by assigning individual control signals and counters to each functional circuit block. Each block's power switch is controlled by its own control signal, and the controller counts switching operations for each block separately. This segmentation enables independent evaluation of each block's power consumption without requiring physical detection resistors, thereby maintaining high accuracy while providing detailed per-block analysis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal measurement approach where the controller uses the same counting mechanism for all functional circuit blocks. Instead of using different detection resistors for different blocks, the system uses a unified digital counting method that works for any block. This universal approach eliminates the accumulation of resistor-related inaccuracies across multiple blocks while maintaining the ability to evaluate each block's power consumption independently.
Data Source
AI summary
A power consumption evaluation device and a power consumption evaluation method are provided. The power consumption evaluation device includes a power converter, a counter, and a controller. The power converter includes a power switch. The power switch performs a switching operation according to a control signal, so that the power converter supplies power to a corresponding load among at least one load. The counter counts one of a positive pulse and a negative pulse of the control signal during a measurement period to obtain a count value. The controller generates an evaluation result of the corresponding load according to the count value.