Power Supply Current Emulation for Fast Transient Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power converters face challenges in accurately measuring and controlling output current, especially during transient conditions, leading to increased costs and power consumption due to the need for fast analog-to-digital converters and load line regulation.
Innovation Solution
An emulator and compensator system that generates an emulated output current value, with the compensator enabling or disabling adjustments based on measurements to improve accuracy, allowing for accurate current tracking without the need for fast ADCs, especially during transient conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fast analog-to-digital converter is used to physically measure output current, then measurement precision and response speed are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the output current by emulating its behavior through mathematical calculations based on voltage measurements and known circuit parameters. Instead of directly measuring current with a fast ADC, the system calculates an emulated current value that mirrors the actual current waveform, thereby achieving accurate current information without the complexity of high-speed current sensing hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical measurement mechanism (fast ADC directly measuring current) with a computational approach. By measuring voltage across known impedances and using mathematical relationships to derive current values, the system substitutes complex hardware measurement with simpler voltage sensing and digital processing
2Measurement precision
If load line regulation is implemented with fast ADC, then output current control accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital representation of the current waveform through emulation, allowing load line regulation to be implemented using this copied current information rather than requiring continuous high-speed physical measurements. This reduces the power consumption associated with fast ADC operation while maintaining the accuracy needed for proper load line regulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective compensation where the emulated current is adjusted based on periodic sampling and compensation cycles rather than continuous correction. This reduces the computational burden and power consumption while maintaining accuracy, as the system only performs intensive calculations when necessary to maintain proper regulation
3Measurement precision
If continuous compensation adjustments are applied to emulated current, then measurement accuracy is improved, but response speed during transients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between compensated and uncompensated modes based on system conditions. During transient events, the system disables compensation to achieve faster response, while during steady-state operation, compensation is enabled to maintain accuracy. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between speed and accuracy based on real-time needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the compensation function from being continuously applied and instead applies it selectively based on system state. By taking out the compensation adjustments and applying them only when beneficial (during steady-state), the system avoids the lag and complexity that would result from continuous compensation while maintaining accuracy when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises an emulator and a corresponding compensator. During operation, the emulator produces, at different instants of time, an emulated output current value representative of an amount of current supplied from an output voltage to a load. In general, the compensator provides selective compensation to the emulated output current value over time. For example, for a first time duration, compensation adjustments from the compensator are used to modify the emulated output current value. For a second duration of time, compensation adjustments from the compensator are not used to modify the emulated output current value. Disabling or discontinuing application of adjustments (such as based on the actual measured output current) during the second time duration (such as during a respective transient condition) provides more accurate and timely generation of a respective emulated output current value.