Power Management Arrangement for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems for mobile devices are inefficient due to the use of multiple system supply circuits with duplicate functions, leading to increased power consumption and die area, as they treat external power sources separately and require significant area for voltage references, which shortens the life of secondary batteries.
Innovation Solution
A power management arrangement that supplies separate voltage levels to digital and analog circuits using a dual stacked voltage supply unit, where the first voltage regulator is selectively coupled to the second voltage regulator, allowing for independent control of drive voltages and minimizing quiescent current in off-mode, thereby extending battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple system supply circuits with duplicate functions are used to handle different external power sources separately, then each power source can be managed independently, but the die area increases significantly due to duplicate voltage references and regulators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple power source handling circuits into a single unified power management circuit. Instead of having separate voltage references and regulators for each power source (USB, wall charger, battery), the invention uses one shared voltage reference and one shared regulator that can handle all power sources through a single input node, thereby reducing die area while maintaining adaptability to multiple power sources
Solution Approach 2:
The unified power management circuit is designed with universal functionality to accept and regulate multiple types of power sources (USB charger, wall charger, and battery) through a single circuit architecture. The voltage reference and regulator are designed to work universally with different power source characteristics, eliminating the need for duplicate specialized circuits for each power source type
2Reliability
If separate voltage references and regulators are provided for each power source input, then each power source can be regulated independently, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voltage references into a single shared voltage reference and multiple regulators into a single shared regulator. This unified approach reduces the total power consumption compared to having separate references and regulators for each power source, while still providing stable and reliable voltage regulation for all power sources through the shared circuitry
Solution Approach 2:
The single voltage reference and single regulator are designed with universal capability to serve multiple power sources simultaneously. The circuit dynamically adapts to different power source inputs (USB, wall charger, battery) and provides stable regulation without requiring separate dedicated regulation circuits for each source, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If the secondary battery is forced to supply power to components when other power sources are available, then components can always be powered, but the secondary battery life is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power source selection logic that automatically determines which power source is currently available and active. The system dynamically switches between power sources: when external power sources (USB or wall charger) are detected, they are used to power the components; when external power is unavailable, the main battery is used; and the secondary battery is reserved solely for maintaining memory and real-time clock. This dynamic adaptation prevents the secondary battery from being depleted while ensuring continuous component operation
Solution Approach 2:
The power management circuit automatically monitors the availability of different power sources and self-regulates the power distribution without external intervention. It detects when external power is present and automatically routes power through the appropriate path, preventing the secondary battery from being used when unnecessary, thereby extending its life while ensuring components remain powered
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 solution optimizes battery life by reducing power consumption and die area, providing enhanced PSRR performance and allowing for lower voltage requirements for digital components, which can be made smaller, and ensures accurate supply voltage using a bandgap voltage reference.
Implementation Method 1
ensures accurate supply voltage using a bandgap voltage reference
Data Source
AI summary
A power management arrangement for a mobile device comprising a digital circuit block and an analog circuit block, the power management arrangement being arranged to supply a first voltage to the analog circuit and a second voltage to the digital circuit, the power management arrangement comprising: an input unit adapted to receive input voltages from a plurality of power sources; a first voltage regulator coupled to the input unit and for supplying the first voltage; a second voltage regulator for supplying the second voltage and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of the first voltage regulator and input unit; and control logic adapted to select which of the received input voltages from the plurality of power sources provides power to the first and second voltage regulators, and to determine the magnitude of the first and second voltages supplied by the first and second voltage regulators.