Power Supply Circuit Variable Activation Sequence Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power supply circuits with variable activation timing for voltage regulators, malfunctions occur due to incorrect power-on orders caused by delays in voltage rise, load changes, or regulator failures, leading to potential device malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The power supply circuit detects the operation state of previous voltage regulators and adjusts the activation or stop order of subsequent regulators based on this detection, ensuring a correct power-on sequence by using detection circuits and selection signals to synchronize the activation of regulators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If activation timing of voltage regulators is controlled by time setting to enable variable activation order, then adaptability to different microcomputers is improved, but reliability of power-on sequence is worsened due to delays in voltage rise or regulator failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by detecting the actual operation state of each voltage regulator and using this detection result to control the activation of subsequent regulators. The detection circuit monitors whether a regulator has successfully activated, and this information feeds back to the control circuit which then decides whether to activate the next regulator, ensuring reliable sequence control based on actual system state rather than predetermined timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the activation sequence adaptive rather than fixed. The control circuit dynamically adjusts the power-on sequence based on real-time detection results, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions such as voltage rise delays or regulator failures, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving adaptability to different microcomputer configurations.
2Reliability
If time margins are set for activation timing of voltage regulators, then reliability of power-on order is improved, but power supply sequence speed is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism eliminates the need for time margins by continuously monitoring the actual activation state of each regulator. Instead of waiting for a predetermined time period to ensure proper activation, the system detects when activation has actually occurred and immediately proceeds to the next regulator, thereby maintaining reliability without sacrificing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection circuit performs self-service by autonomously monitoring the activation state of each voltage regulator and providing this information to the control circuit. This self-monitoring capability allows the system to determine when it is safe to proceed to the next regulator without requiring external timing control or conservative time margins, thus accelerating the power supply sequence while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In a power supply circuit in which a power supply sequence is variable, a malfunction of a device to which power is supplied caused by a wrong power-on order is prevented. In a power supply circuit according to the present invention, an operation state of a previous voltage regulator is detected, and based on a detection result, an order of activation or stop of respective voltage regulators is controlled.