Power Isolation Circuit with Charge Store and Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power isolation techniques require large components operated at high switching frequencies, leading to high power consumption and inefficiency, and struggle to effectively obfuscate power consumption patterns, making it difficult to prevent detection of current drawn at the power input.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a first isolation circuit that switches between modes at a switching frequency, coupled with a second isolation circuit that filters intermediate voltage signals to reduce signal components at the switching frequency, providing power obfuscation by generating a stable output voltage and varying switching frequencies to further obscure power consumption patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing power isolation techniques use large components operated at high switching frequencies, then power isolation can be provided, but power consumption increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power isolation function is divided into two separate isolation circuits: a first isolation circuit that provides primary power isolation, and a second isolation circuit that provides additional isolation and filtering. This segmentation allows each circuit to operate more efficiently at lower frequencies while maintaining the overall power isolation function, thereby reducing total power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate power node is introduced between the first and second isolation circuits. This intermediate node serves as a mediator that decouples the two isolation stages, allowing them to operate independently at optimized lower frequencies. The intermediate node enables power isolation to be achieved without requiring a single high-frequency switching stage that would consume more power.
2Reliability
If existing power isolation techniques use large components operated at high switching frequencies, then power isolation can be provided, but device size and component requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the power isolation function into two separate isolation circuits operating at lower frequencies, the component size requirements for each individual circuit are reduced. Lower switching frequencies allow the use of smaller inductors and capacitors while maintaining the same isolation performance, thereby reducing overall device size.
3Reliability
If switching frequency is increased to provide power isolation, then isolation effect is improved, but power consumption and detectability of power patterns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first isolation circuit switches periodically at a first switching frequency while the second isolation circuit switches at a second switching frequency. By using different periodic switching frequencies for the two circuits, the power consumption patterns become more complex and less detectable, while still maintaining effective power isolation through the combined effect of both periodic switching actions.
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
This approach reduces the need for large components at high frequencies, achieving improved power efficiency and obfuscation, making it difficult to determine power consumption patterns from the power input, thereby enhancing power isolation.
Implementation Method 1
The second isolation circuit is configured to generate the output voltage signal by filtering the intermediate voltage signal to reduce signal components at the switching frequency
Implementation Method 2
a first isolation circuit comprising a charge store and configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode at a switching frequency, wherein in the first mode the charge store is coupled to the power input
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided apparatuses and methods. The apparatus comprise a power input and a power output and a first isolation circuit comprising a charge store. The first isolation circuit is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode at a switching frequency. In the first mode the charge store is coupled to the power input and is electrically isolated from an intermediate power node. In the second mode the charge store is coupled to the intermediate power node and is electrically isolated from the power input. The apparatus further comprises a second isolation circuit electrically coupled to the intermediate power node and the power output. The second isolation circuit is configured to output an output voltage at the power output. The second isolation circuit is configured to generate the output voltage by filtering the intermediate voltage signal to reduce signal components at the switching frequency.