Multi-Stage Power Supply Switching for Zero Standby Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply devices consume significant unnecessary standby power as they require all power stages and controllers to be in an operation state to maintain an on/off controller, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A zero standby power system is designed where the on/off controller is placed on a first side, allowing it to receive and respond to on/off signals without constant operation, using a zero standby power device to control connections to power stages based on input signals, and incorporating a VSU regulator and relay switches to manage power efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all power stages and controllers are maintained in operation state to enable on/off controller to function, then the on/off controller can receive and respond to on/off signals, but standby power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is divided into multiple independent power stages (first power stage, second power stage, etc.), each capable of being independently controlled. The on/off controller is segregated into a separate zero standby power device that can remain in low-power state while still receiving signals. This segmentation allows selective activation of only necessary power stages when on/off signals need to be processed, eliminating the need to maintain all power stages in continuous operation state.
Solution Approach 2:
The zero standby power device is configured to be maintainable in operation state with capability to receive on/off signals at arbitrary time points, preparing the system to respond immediately when needed. The controller can wake up from low-power state upon receiving on/off signals through isolation drivers or other signal transmission mechanisms, ensuring reliable signal reception without requiring continuous full-power operation of all stages.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If on/off controller is placed on first side with zero standby power device, then standby power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases due to additional control circuits and isolation drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The zero standby power device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can receive on/off signals from external devices, control the activation of multiple power stages, and maintain capability to respond to signals at arbitrary time points. This multi-functional design consolidates control responsibilities into a single device, reducing the need for separate control circuits for each power stage and thereby managing system complexity despite the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Isolation drivers are introduced as intermediary components between the zero standby power device and the power stages, and between the controller and external devices. These isolation drivers enable signal transmission while allowing the controller to remain in low-power state, simplifying the overall control architecture by providing standardized interfaces that handle signal level conversion and isolation, thus reducing the complexity of direct connections between multiple components.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a zero standby power system, comprising a power supply device comprising a plurality of power stages and a zero standby power device configured to receive an on/off signal and to control connections respectively to the plurality of power stages based on the received on/off signal, wherein the zero standby power device may comprise an on/off controller configured to be maintained to be in an operation state and to receive an on/off signal at an arbitrary time point.