PWM Error Amplifier Integrator Circuit for Stable Phase Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing error amplifiers in pulse width modulation switching amplifiers face issues with circuit complexity, phase shift, and instability due to temperature-dependent capacitances, leading to signal degradation and potential circuit damage, which are not adequately addressed by traditional multi-block filter topologies.

Innovation Solution

A simplified error amplifier design using a single stage of circuitry with an operational amplifier configured as an integrator, incorporating feedback and feedforward capacitors, low pass filters, and a pi input filter to attenuate modulation and aliasing components, ensuring stability and high gain-bandwidth product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional multi-block filter topologies are used in error amplifiers, then filtering capability is provided, but circuit complexity increases and phase shift occurs leading to instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit stabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple filter blocks into a single low-pass filter stage with transfer function H(s) = (s + ωz1)/(s + ωp1) * (s + ωz2)/(s + ωp2). This combines what would traditionally be separate filtering blocks into one unified stage, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining the necessary filtering capability and phase characteristics for stable error amplifier operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If temperature-dependent capacitances are used in the circuit, then component implementation is simplified, but phase shift increases causing signal degradation and potential circuit damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent implementationVSAvoidphase shift
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the low-pass filter with specific pole and zero frequencies (ωp1, ωz1, ωp2, ωz2) that are optimized to compensate for temperature-dependent phase shifts. By carefully selecting these parameters, the filter maintains stable phase characteristics across temperature variations, allowing the use of temperature-dependent capacitances without suffering from excessive phase shift.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If high gain-bandwidth product is achieved through optimized component values, then amplification performance improves, but circuit sensitivity to parameter variations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegain-bandwidth productVSAvoidparameter sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The error amplifier uses global negative feedback with the low-pass filter to stabilize the system. The feedback mechanism compensates for parameter variations and maintains consistent performance across different operating conditions. The feedback loop ensures that high gain-bandwidth product is achieved while maintaining reliability by automatically correcting for parameter sensitivities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3665774B1An error amplifier
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 REID ACOUSTIC DESIGNS LTD
  • EP3665774B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3665774B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3665774B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An error amplifier for a pulse width modulation circuit is described. The amplifier includes an operational amplifier configured as an integrator and a feedback loop coupled between a signal output of the operational amplifier and an inverting input of the operational amplifier. The feedback loop comprises a feedback capacitor coupled to the signal output, a feedback resistor coupled to the feedback capacitor, and an integrator resistor coupled to the feedback resistor and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. A junction between the feedback resistor and the integrator resistor is configured to receive an input signal and a junction between the feedback capacitor and the feedback resistor is configured to receive a feedback signal from the pulse width modulation circuit.