Precision Surge Clamp with Constant Clamping Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surge protectors, such as TVS diodes and analog circuit-based voltage regulators, fail to provide precise voltage clamping due to varying clamping voltage with current levels and high dynamic resistance, leading to inadequate protection against surge events, especially in compact electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A precision surge clamp system with a reference circuit and feedback control circuit that maintains a constant clamping voltage by generating a reference voltage based on the source voltage, reducing dynamic resistance to near-zero levels, and adjusting current sink accordingly to ensure precise voltage regulation regardless of current levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TVS diodes are used for voltage clamping, then surge protection is provided, but the clamping voltage varies with current levels resulting in high dynamic resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback control circuit that continuously monitors the voltage across the load and adjusts the operating point of the TVS diode to maintain a constant clamping voltage. The control circuit detects voltage deviations and modulates the TVS diode current accordingly, eliminating the dynamic resistance effect that causes clamping voltage variation with current levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the TVS diode by controlling its bias current through a feedback mechanism. By dynamically adjusting the TVS diode's operating point rather than allowing it to operate passively, the system maintains constant clamping voltage despite variations in surge current levels.
2Measurement precision
If analog circuit-based voltage regulators are used, then precise control over clamping voltage is achieved, but the response time is slow causing failure during fast edge TVS events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fast response characteristics of TVS diodes with the precise voltage control capability of analog regulators. The TVS diode provides immediate surge clamping while the feedback control circuit fine-tunes the clamping voltage to a precise constant value, combining the strengths of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback control circuit acts as an intermediary between the TVS diode and the load, adjusting the TVS diode's operating point to achieve precise voltage control without compromising the diode's fast response time. The control circuit processes voltage deviations and translates them into appropriate TVS diode current adjustments.
3Measurement precision
If voltage regulators are used for precise voltage control, then clamping voltage precision is improved, but series resistance is added which is disadvantageous for power supply input protection
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control circuit achieves precise voltage regulation without requiring series resistance by continuously monitoring the output voltage and adjusting the TVS diode current accordingly. This eliminates the need for resistive voltage division that would otherwise be required for precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the passive resistive voltage control mechanism with an active feedback control system that uses electronic sensing and adjustment. Instead of using series resistance to divide and control voltage, the system uses a feedback loop with the TVS diode to actively maintain the desired clamping voltage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If surge protectors are integrated into compact electronic devices, then protection is provided in locations without separate surge protectors, but the form factor must be small which conflicts with the complexity of precise voltage control circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control circuit is designed to work with the TVS diode's inherent surge protection function while adding precise voltage control. The same control mechanism serves both to maintain constant clamping voltage and to enable integration in compact form factors by optimizing component utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the circuit to adapt its behavior based on operating conditions. This enables the system to maintain precise voltage control across varying current levels while using minimal components suitable for compact integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a voltage surge protection circuit that receives a source voltage from a source. The voltage surge protection circuit includes a reference circuit to generate a reference voltage based on the source voltage when the source voltage exceeds a clamping voltage and a feedback control circuit to receive the reference voltage and clamp an output voltage to the clamping voltage when the voltage from the source exceeds the clamping voltage. A dynamic resistance of the feedback control circuit is substantially zero.