Power Supply Regulator with Waste-Gate Switch for Voltage Transient Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced microprocessors experience voltage transients due to changes in frequency modes, leading to potential overshoots that can exceed operating specifications, causing reliability issues or damage, and existing solutions require expensive low ESR capacitors or inefficient step-wise frequency changes.
Innovation Solution
A regulator with an energy waste-gate and ground path switch that senses voltage transients and shunts excess energy to ground, preventing overshoots by comparing the power supply output voltage to the microprocessor's desired voltage set-point, thereby maintaining voltage within specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the microprocessor switches between frequency modes dynamically, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage transients and overshoots occur that can exceed operating specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The waste-gate circuit is configured to detect voltage transients before they become harmful overshoots and counteracts them by providing a discharge path for the output capacitor. This preliminary anti-action prevents the voltage from exceeding specifications while allowing dynamic frequency switching for power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste-gate circuit acts as an intermediary element between the power supply output and ground, controlled by a comparator that monitors the voltage. This intermediary provides a controlled discharge path that mediates between the need for fast frequency switching and the need to maintain voltage within specifications.
2Reliability
If expensive low ESR capacitors are used to compensate for voltage transients, then voltage regulation is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using expensive low ESR capacitors for continuous voltage regulation, the invention uses a standard capacitor combined with a waste-gate circuit that activates only temporarily when voltage transients occur. This approach achieves the same voltage regulation effect using cheaper, standard components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the transient compensation function from the main voltage regulation system. Rather than requiring the output capacitor to handle both energy storage and transient suppression, the waste-gate circuit is extracted as a separate dedicated function, allowing the use of standard capacitors.
3Reliability
If step-wise frequency changes are implemented to reduce transients, then voltage overshoot is reduced, but switching speed and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The comparator continuously monitors the output voltage and provides feedback to the waste-gate control circuit. This feedback mechanism enables the waste-gate to activate only when needed (during transients) and deactivate when voltage is stable, allowing fast frequency switching without continuous conservative step-wise changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste-gate circuit provides dynamic response to voltage conditions, adjusting its conductance state in real-time based on the comparator output. This dynamic behavior allows the system to handle fast frequency transitions adaptively, rather than requiring static conservative step-wise frequency changes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The regulator effectively reduces the need for costly low ESR capacitors, allows faster and more efficient frequency switching, and prevents voltage overshoots, ensuring the microprocessor operates within safe voltage tolerances while reducing system costs and improving power efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A regulator with an energy waste-gate and ground path switch that senses voltage transients and shunts excess energy to ground
Data Source
AI summary
A regulator for reducing transient voltages at a power supply output includes a switch connected between ground and the power supply output and a comparator for controlling the opening/closing of the switch. The comparator includes an input for sensing a power supply output voltage and an input for receiving a reference voltage. When the output voltage exceeds the reference voltage by a threshold, for example, the comparator operates to close the switch, shunting excess energy in the power supply to ground and reducing the output voltage. As the output voltage returns to within the threshold of the reference voltage, for example, the comparator operates to open the switch, permitting the power supply to resume normal operation. The power supply may power a microprocessor that is susceptible to voltage transients that occur as the processor power demands change. The regulator compensates for these transients and maintains the power supply output voltage within desired specifications.