Power Rail Sequencing With Integrated Voltage Supervision
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern electronic systems with multiple power rails, existing solutions often treat power supply supervision and sequencing as separate design considerations, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from out-of-regulation power rails.
Innovation Solution
A power monitor system that integrates supervision and sequencing functions, monitoring power rails for voltage regulation and enabling/disabling power supplies in a controlled order using a supervisor, sequencer, and error processor, with communication and interrupt capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power supply supervision and sequencing are implemented as separate system functions, then each function can be designed and implemented independently, but the overall system complexity increases and integration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supply supervision and sequencing functions into a single integrated system. The supervisor monitors power rail voltages and communicates with the sequencer, which controls power supply enablement based on regulation status. This integration reduces system complexity while maintaining independent design capabilities through modular functional blocks within the same system.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions: voltage monitoring, regulation detection, sequencing control, and interdependent power supply management. By creating a multi-functional system that handles both supervision and sequencing, the patent eliminates the need for separate independent implementations while preserving design flexibility.
2Device complexity
If power rails are monitored separately without integrated sequencing, then monitoring simplicity is maintained, but system reliability decreases due to potential out-of-regulation power rails
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisor continuously monitors power rail voltages and provides feedback about regulation status to the sequencer. The sequencer uses this feedback to control power supply enablement, ensuring that power supplies are only enabled when their dependent power rails are properly regulated. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains reliability while keeping the monitoring approach straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of power rail voltages before enabling power supplies. The supervisor checks regulation status in advance, and the sequencer delays power supply enablement until proper regulation is confirmed. This preliminary action prevents out-of-regulation power rails from being activated, improving reliability without complicating the monitoring process.
3Speed
If power supplies are enabled without sequencing control, then power-up speed is faster, but system stability decreases due to improper power rail activation order
Solution Approach 1:
The sequencer performs preliminary checks of power rail regulation status before enabling power supplies. By checking conditions in advance and only enabling power supplies when dependencies are satisfied, the system ensures proper activation order without significantly delaying the overall power-up process. This maintains stability while preserving speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system automatically manages the sequencing logic based on real-time power rail status. The supervisor and sequencer work together to self-determine the proper enablement order without external intervention, ensuring stability through automated control while maintaining fast power-up through efficient decision-making algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for power monitoring with sequencing and supervision are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises supervising a first power rail and a second power rail, sequencing a first enable signal associated with the first power rail and a second enable signal associated with the second power rail, and determining whether the first power rail is enabled based on regulation information determined while supervising the first power rail.