Power Manager Voltage Sensing for Short-Circuit Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power managers and display panels can be damaged due to short-circuits during the initial driving period before the driving voltage is fully supplied, as existing short-circuit protection mechanisms are ineffective in this phase.
Innovation Solution
A power manager with dual driving voltage generators, where a second driving voltage generator senses the voltage of a second power line during the initial driving period and controls the supply of the first driving voltage based on it, preventing damage by comparing voltages and activating shutdown signals when necessary, and a first driving voltage generator senses the first power line voltage during a pre-charge period to adjust its supply accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional short-circuit protection is implemented, then damage during normal driving is prevented, but damage during initial driving period cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling the second driving voltage generator to perform voltage sensing on the second power line before the second driving voltage is actually supplied. This preliminary sensing during the initial driving period detects potential short-circuits before they can cause damage, extending protection coverage to the vulnerable startup phase that conventional protection missed.
2Reliability
If voltage sensing is performed during initial driving period, then short-circuit damage is prevented, but additional control complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the second driving voltage generator perform its own voltage sensing function during the initial driving period. The generator autonomously monitors its own output power line for short-circuits without requiring external protection circuits, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining effective protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the second driving voltage generator to serve dual purposes: generating the second driving voltage for normal operation and simultaneously performing voltage sensing for short-circuit detection during the initial driving period. This eliminates the need for separate protection circuits and reduces overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If first driving voltage is supplied before second driving voltage, then driving sequence is optimized, but short-circuit risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a voltage sensing mechanism that continuously monitors the second power line voltage during the initial driving period. When a short-circuit is detected (voltage anomaly), the system provides feedback to stop the supply of the first driving voltage, preventing damage while maintaining the optimized driving sequence where the first driving voltage is supplied before the second.
Data Source
AI summary
A power manager includes a first driving voltage generator which supplies a first driving voltage to a first power line and a second driving voltage generator which supplies a second driving voltage to a second power line, where a voltage level of the second driving voltage is lower than a voltage level of the first driving voltage. During an initial driving period in which the first driving voltage is supplied to the first power line and before the second driving voltage is supplied to the second power line, the second driving voltage generator senses a voltage of the second power line, and a supply of the first driving voltage is controlled based on the voltage of the second power line.