Regulator Circuit Switching for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit apparatuses with regulator circuits face inefficiencies in power consumption, as the current capability required to handle heavy loads during active times leads to wasteful energy usage during sleep times.
Innovation Solution
The integrated circuit apparatus includes a first and second regulator circuit, with the control circuit selectively enabling one regulator based on load current levels, using the first regulator for low power consumption during sleep times and the second regulator for high accuracy and low noise during active times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a regulator circuit with high current capability is used to handle heavy loads during active times, then the voltage regulation accuracy and noise performance are improved, but the power consumption increases during sleep times
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between first and second regulator circuits based on operational state (active vs sleep). During active times, the second regulator circuit with high current capability is enabled to provide accurate voltage regulation. During sleep times, the first regulator circuit with low power consumption is enabled to minimize energy usage. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by adapting the regulator characteristics to the current operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator system is segmented into multiple independent regulator circuits (first regulator circuit and second regulator circuit), each with different current capabilities and power consumption characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to select the appropriate regulator for each operational state, avoiding the need to operate a single high-performance regulator continuously and thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining voltage regulation accuracy when needed.
2Reliability
If a regulator circuit is designed for high current capability to withstand heavy loads, then the reliability under load is improved, but the power consumption during low activity periods increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit dynamically selects between regulator circuits based on load conditions. When heavy loads are detected during active times, the second regulator circuit with high current capability and reliability is activated. During sleep times with minimal or no load, the first regulator circuit is activated, which consumes significantly less power. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliability when needed while eliminating wasteful energy consumption during low-activity periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching between different regulator circuits with different current capabilities. The first regulator circuit is designed with parameters optimized for low power consumption, while the second regulator circuit has parameters optimized for high current capability and reliability. By changing which regulator circuit is active based on operational state, the system achieves both reliability under load and energy efficiency during sleep times.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit apparatus includes a first regulator circuit configured to generate a first regulated voltage; a second regulator circuit configured to generate a second regulated voltage; and a control circuit configured to perform selection with respect to the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit such that one regulator circuit among the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit is in an on-state and another regulator circuit is in an off-state. The control circuit is configured to: cause the second regulator circuit to be in the on-state upon detecting that a load current is greater than or equal to a predetermined load current; and cause the first regulator circuit to be in the on-state upon detecting that the load current is less than the predetermined load current.