Processor Reference Voltage Adjustment Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power supplies for processors, the transition between different voltage settings can cause undershoot and potential damage to switches due to the lack of reverse current protection, especially when rapidly changing from a decay to a new voltage setting.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that adjusts the reference voltage in multiple steps, ensuring the output voltage remains within a predetermined scope before proceeding to the next step, thereby preventing undershoot and switch damage by integrating a reference adjusting circuit and voltage regulator that receives a VID code from a processor and converts input voltage into output voltage based on the adjusted reference voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the reference voltage is directly changed to a target value during decay transition, then the transition speed is improved, but undershoot and switch damage occur due to reverse current
Solution Approach 1:
The reference voltage adjustment is divided into multiple steps instead of a direct change. The reference adjusting circuit increments or decrements the reference voltage by a preset amount in each step, only proceeding to the next step after the output voltage reaches a predetermined scope. This segmentation prevents undershoot and reverse current damage while maintaining acceptable transition speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary checks before completing the voltage transition. The reference adjusting circuit waits for the output voltage to reach a predetermined scope of the reference voltage before proceeding to the next adjustment step. This preliminary action ensures that the output voltage tracks the reference voltage closely, preventing undershoot and switch damage.
2Reliability
If the reference voltage is adjusted in multiple steps with waiting for output voltage to catch up, then switch safety is improved, but the transition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a predetermined scope (range) around the reference voltage rather than requiring exact matching. This partial action approach allows the transition to proceed as soon as the output voltage enters the acceptable range, rather than waiting for precise convergence, thereby reducing transition time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the adjustment step size and predetermined scope parameters to optimize the balance between transition time and reliability. By adjusting these parameters, the system can achieve faster transitions while still preventing undershoot and switch damage.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a power supply for processor and control method thereof. The power supply comprises a reference adjusting circuit and a voltage regulator. The reference adjusting circuit is configured to receive a VID code from a processor, and adjust a reference voltage based on the VID code. The voltage regulator is coupled to the reference adjusting circuit and converts an input voltage into an output voltage in accordance to the reference voltage. The reference adjusting circuit adjusts the reference voltage in a plurality of steps until the reference voltage reaches a target value corresponding to the VID code. The reference adjusting circuit adjusts the reference voltage by a preset value during each step, and proceeds to adjust the reference voltage by a next step only after the output voltage reaches a predetermined scope of the reference voltage.