Programmable Power Supply Control for Stable CV-CC Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supplies struggle to maintain tightly regulated output voltage and current during transitions between constant voltage and constant current operating modes, leading to inefficiencies and power dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a programmable power supply with a voltage control subsystem and a current control subsystem connected in series, allowing for tight regulation and high granularity of both output voltage and current, even during mode transitions, using a controller that includes a power stage, current sense device, and control subsystems to manage voltage and current error signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional power supplies switch between voltage control and current control subsystems during mode transitions, then the power supply can operate in different modes, but the output voltage and current regulation becomes loose and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage control subsystem and current control subsystem into a unified control architecture where both subsystems are logically coupled in series and can operate simultaneously. The current control subsystem processes current error signals and the voltage control subsystem processes voltage error signals through a shared control pathway, enabling seamless mode transitions without regulation loss. This combining approach eliminates the switching discontinuity problem while maintaining the functional separation needed for precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where the controller can adaptively switch between constant voltage mode and constant current mode based on real-time operating conditions. The logical series coupling allows the system to dynamically adjust which control signal (voltage or current) dominates the power stage control, enabling flexible mode transitions while maintaining tight regulation throughout the transition process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the power supply uses separate parallel control subsystems for voltage and current, then each subsystem can be independently designed, but the system cannot maintain tight regulation during mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares both control subsystems to be ready and logically connected in advance before mode transitions are needed. By establishing the logical series coupling between voltage and current control subsystems beforehand, the system eliminates transition delays and maintains continuous tight regulation. The control architecture is pre-configured to handle both modes seamlessly, so no reconfiguration or switching transient occurs during operation.
3Loss of energy
If linear regulator input voltage is not tightly controlled, then the power supply design is simpler, but power dissipation in the linear regulator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the output voltage of the power supply is continuously monitored and fed back to the controller. The voltage control subsystem compares the actual output voltage with the desired voltage and generates corrective error signals to adjust the power stage, ensuring the input voltage to the linear regulator remains optimally controlled. This feedback mechanism minimizes the voltage differential across the linear regulator, reducing power dissipation while maintaining simple overall system design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a power supply includes (1) generating a current error signal representing a difference between (a) magnitude of an output current of the power supply and (b) magnitude of a reference current value and (2) providing the current error signal for injection into a voltage feedback node of the power supply. A controller for a power supply includes (1) a current control subsystem configured to regulate a magnitude of an output current of the power supply and (2) a voltage control subsystem configured to regulate a magnitude of an output voltage of the power supply, the voltage control subsystem being logically coupled in series with the current control subsystem.