Multiphase Power Supply Phase Rotation for Wear Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multiphase power supplies inefficiently manage workload distribution among power switching components, leading to uneven wear and tear as the same sets of components are deactivated in a fixed order, resulting in increased usage and aging disparities among active and inactive phases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to dynamically drop one or more switching phases when output current demand drops below a threshold, while maintaining at least one active phase and rotating it among all sets of power switching components to distribute workload evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If phases are dropped in a fixed order to reduce switching losses, then energy efficiency is improved, but workload distribution among power switching components becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic phase selection by rotating which phase is dropped, rather than using a fixed drop pattern. The controller dynamically adjusts the active/inactive phase configuration based on rotation counters, ensuring that each phase experiences both active and inactive states over time, thereby balancing workload while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic rotation of phase activation patterns. A rotation counter increments with each phase drop event, and phases are activated/inactivated in a rotating sequence based on this counter. This periodic action ensures that no single phase remains permanently inactive, distributing wear evenly across all power switching components.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If multiple phases are kept active to balance workload, then component lifespan is improved, but switching losses and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the power supply by dynamically adjusting the number of active phases based on load conditions. When load is low, fewer phases are active to reduce switching losses; when load is high, more phases are activated. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between energy efficiency and component utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different phase activation states based on real-time conditions. The controller monitors load requirements and actively switches between single-phase, dual-phase, and multi-phase operation modes, optimizing the balance between reducing switching losses and maintaining adequate workload distribution across components.
3Productivity
If phases are dropped under low load to improve efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but uneven wear on components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic rotation of the inactive phase through a rotation counter mechanism. Each time a phase is dropped, the counter increments and determines which phase should be inactive next in the rotation sequence. This ensures that over time, all phases experience both active and inactive states, distributing wear uniformly while maintaining energy efficiency during low-load periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the rotation counter that tracks the state of each phase. This feedback mechanism ensures that phases are cycled through active and inactive states in a controlled manner, preventing any single phase from being permanently deactivated and thereby ensuring uniform wear distribution while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for workload balancing among power switching components in a multiphase switching power supply, the power supply including one set of power switching components for each switching phase, where workload balancing includes: dropping one or more switching phases when output current demand on the power supply drops below a predetermined threshold, leaving at least one active switching phase; and rotating the at least one active switching phase among all sets of power switching components.