Power Supply Apparatus Dynamic Voltage Control Microprocessor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply systems for microprocessors lack flexibility in setting target power supply voltages, limiting design options and precision due to vendor-specific regulator circuits and limited resolution of VID signals.
Innovation Solution
A power supply apparatus with a system controller that sets the target power supply voltage based on voltage configuration signals from the microprocessor, using a regulator circuit to generate and supply the appropriate voltage, allowing for dynamic adjustment according to conditions such as elapsed time, computational load, and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vendor-specific regulator circuit is used to supply power to a microprocessor, then the regulator circuit can be optimized for that specific microprocessor, but the design flexibility is limited and the system cannot easily adapt to different microprocessors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal regulator circuit that can work with multiple types of microprocessors from different vendors. The regulator circuit includes a voltage detection unit that identifies the microprocessor type and configures itself accordingly, eliminating the need for vendor-specific regulator circuits while maintaining optimal power supply performance for each microprocessor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator circuit performs self-configuration by automatically detecting the microprocessor type through voltage configuration signals and setting its own operating parameters. This self-service capability allows the regulator to adapt to different microprocessors without manual intervention or vendor-specific programming, achieving both reliability and versatility.
2Device complexity
If the power supply voltage is set using a fixed number of VID signal bits, then the regulator circuit design is simplified, but the voltage resolution is limited and cannot be finely adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic voltage adjustment capability where the regulator circuit can modify the target power supply voltage based on real-time conditions. The voltage setting is no longer fixed by a predetermined number of VID bits but can be dynamically adjusted within a range, allowing fine-grained voltage control while maintaining relatively simple circuit design through software-based configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of voltage resolution from a fixed, predetermined value based on VID signal bits to a dynamic parameter that can be adjusted according to operational conditions. This allows the voltage resolution to be optimized for different scenarios without changing the fundamental hardware architecture, achieving higher precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the target power supply voltage is determined by the microprocessor through VID signals, then the microprocessor has control over its power supply, but the system cannot optimize voltage based on external conditions like elapsed time or temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the regulator circuit receives not only the voltage configuration signal from the microprocessor but also additional signals indicating operational conditions such as elapsed time and temperature. The regulator uses this feedback information to optimize the target power supply voltage dynamically, achieving better operational efficiency while maintaining microprocessor control through the voltage configuration signal interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary voltage optimization by adjusting the target power supply voltage based on predicted operational conditions before they fully manifest. For example, the regulator can anticipate temperature changes or usage patterns and adjust the voltage accordingly in advance, improving operational efficiency without requiring real-time microprocessor intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
In a power supply apparatus for supplying a target power supply voltage to a microprocessor, a system controller sets the target power supply voltage to be supplied to the microprocessor based on a voltage configuration signal outputted from the microprocessor and outputs a voltage setting signal corresponding to the target power supply voltage. The regulator circuit generates the target power supply voltage set by the system controller based on the voltage setting signal outputted from the system controller and supplies the voltage to the microprocessor 10. The system controller acquires the conditions of the microprocessor, such as the operating time and temperature of the microprocessor and the amount of computation in the microprocessor, and reflects the acquired conditions on the setting of the power supply voltage.