Reconfigurable Power Supply Circuit for Light and Heavy Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display driver ICs face challenges in simultaneously meeting the requirements of light and heavy loading due to the need for different switching converters, which occupy significant area and require additional I/O pads, making it difficult to satisfy both light and heavy loading needs.
Innovation Solution
A universal power stage with a signal selector that can adapt to both switching-capacitor and switching-inductor converters, utilizing an H-bridge power stage with a signal selector to control switches and select appropriate control signals, allowing for flexible configuration to meet various voltage levels and loadings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a switching-inductor converter is deployed to satisfy heavy loading requirements, then power transmission efficiency in large voltage range is improved, but chip area and I/O pad requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal power stage that can function as different types of switching converters (capacitor-based or inductor-based) depending on configuration. The same hardware infrastructure supports multiple operating modes, allowing the system to achieve high efficiency for both light and heavy loading conditions without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic reconfiguration capability where the power stage can switch between different converter topologies based on loading conditions. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize its structure in real-time, transitioning from capacitor-based conversion for light loading to inductor-based conversion for heavy loading, thereby maintaining high efficiency across varying operational demands.
2Loss of energy
If a switching-capacitor converter is deployed to satisfy light loading requirements, then power transmission efficiency within small voltage range is improved, but it cannot satisfy heavy loading requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The universal power stage is designed to perform multiple functions by changing its configuration. It can operate as a capacitor-based switching converter for light loading applications or reconfigure to function as an inductor-based switching converter for heavy loading applications, thereby achieving both high efficiency and broad adaptability across different loading scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on detected loading conditions. When light loading is detected, it operates in capacitor-based mode for high efficiency; when heavy loading is detected, it transitions to inductor-based mode to maintain performance, thus achieving adaptability without sacrificing efficiency in either regime.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate switching converters are deployed for light and heavy loading, then both loading requirements are satisfied, but device complexity and area increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing separate dedicated converters for light and heavy loading, the patent employs a single universal power stage that can be reconfigured to perform the functions of different converter types. This approach satisfies all loading requirements while avoiding the complexity and area overhead of multiple separate converter circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple converter types into a single integrated power stage. By combining capacitor-based and inductor-based conversion capabilities within one reconfigurable structure, the system achieves the adaptability of having multiple converters while reducing the overall complexity and area compared to deploying separate converters for each loading scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply circuit for a switching converter includes a power stage and a signal selector. The power stage has a first voltage port, a second voltage port, a third voltage port and a fourth voltage port, and has a first device terminal and a second device terminal configured to be coupled to a power storage device. The power stage includes a first switch coupled between the first voltage port and the first device terminal, a second switch coupled between the second voltage port and the second device terminal, a third switch coupled between the third voltage port and the first device terminal, and a fourth switch coupled between the fourth voltage port and the second device terminal. The signal selector, coupled to the power stage, is configured to select one of a plurality of control signals to be output to each of the first to fourth switches.